Salus University

What Salus University does

Salus University, now operating as Drexel University's Elkins Park Campus following a merger finalized on July 3, 2025, is a graduate and professional health science institution located at 8360 Old York Road in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia. The institution traces its lineage to the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (founded over 100 years ago) and was constituted as Salus University in 2008; its academic portfolio spans three colleges — the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, the College of Nursing and Health Professions, and the College of Medicine — offering doctoral and master's degrees in Optometry, Physician Assistant Studies, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Orthotics and Prosthetics, Audiology, and Biomedicine.

Its technology stack is built around simulation-based clinical training, including a Standardized Patient Program with an integrated simulation center, early clinical exposure starting in the first stages of education, and an 18-month integrated O&P residency with dual mentorship. Specialized tools include Monarch Braille Displays for Blindness and Low Vision Studies. The institution operates four clinical training and service facilities — The Eye Institute, the Pennsylvania Ear Institute, the Speech-Language Institute, and the William Feinbloom Low Vision Rehabilitation Center — which both train students and generate patient-care revenue.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees across its multi-year professional programs, supplemented by clinical service fees from affiliated patient-care facilities, federal research grants (including National Eye Institute funding for trials such as CITT-ART), and alumni giving. The Osborne Audiology distance education program extends the institution's reach to students in 13+ countries. Following the 2025 merger, Salus's programs now award Drexel University degrees and operate within Drexel's College of Medicine, College of Nursing and Health Professions, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies, combining two 100+ year institutional legacies.

Name

Salus University

Legal name

Salus University

Website

https://salus.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Salus University, now Drexel University's Elkins Park Campus, is a graduate and professional health science institution offering doctoral and master's degrees in optometry, physician assistant studies, audiology, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, orthotics and prosthetics, and biomedicine, serving students across the U.S. and 13+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Health Sciences

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Schools of Optometry (EDAHAGAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Allied Health & Rehabilitation Sciences Schools (PT/OT/SLP, etc.) (EDAHAGAH)

Keywords

• Health science education
• Optometry programs
• Physician assistant studies
• Graduate professional degrees
• Clinical rehabilitation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Elkins Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Professional and graduate degree programs in health science professions generate revenue through tuition charges for Doctor of Optometry, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Orthotics and Prosthetics, and other health programs
2. Clinical Services: Revenue from clinical facilities including The Eye Institute, Pennsylvania Ear Institute, Speech-Language Institute, and William Feinbloom Low Vision Rehabilitation Center providing patient care services
3. Grants and Research Funding: National Eye Institute (NEI) funded research including CITT-ART and other clinical trials generate research funding
4. Alumni Giving and Donations: Development and alumni relations activities generating charitable contributions to support programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Salus University is a graduate and professional health sciences institution that offers degree and certificate programs in optometry, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, orthotics and prosthetics, audiology, and biomedicine. It supplements classroom instruction with simulation-based training, standardized patient experiences, early clinical exposure, and integrated residency models, while also operating clinical facilities that deliver patient care in eye care, hearing, speech-language, and low vision rehabilitation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO): College focused on optometry education and clinical care, with programs in Doctor of Optometry, residency programs, and international optometry programs
• College of Nursing and Health Professions (CNHP)
• College of Medicine
• Salus at Drexel University Physician Assistant (PA) Studies
• The Eye Institute (TEI)
• Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI)
• Speech-Language Institute (SLI)
• William Feinbloom Low Vision Rehabilitation Center

Products and services

• Doctor of Optometry (OD) Program
• Physician Assistant Studies Program
• Occupational Therapy Program
• Speech-Language Pathology Program
• Orthotics and Prosthetics Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 136 students graduated from PCO
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Drexel UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Merger finalized July 3, 2025. Salus University (originally established from Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2008) combined with Drexel University, becoming the Elkins Park Campus. Programs now part of Drexel's College of Medicine, College of Nursing and Health Professions, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies.
• Bestwork Industries for the Blind, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Salus at Drexel University partnered with Bestwork Industries for the Blind, Inc. in Cherry Hill, New Jersey to open a clinic serving those in need of blindness and low vision services. Bestwork is a private not-for-profit corporation dedicated to improving quality of life for people who are blind by providing training and employment opportunities.
• Hearts in MotionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian organization that partners with the Physician Assistant Studies program for international medical mission trips serving underserved communities in Zacapa, Guatemala.
• National Vision, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongtime partnership between Pennsylvania College of Optometry, The Eye Institute, and National Vision, Inc. focused on caring for people. NVI is one of the largest optical retail companies in the US with more than 1,100 stores in 38 states and Puerto Rico. Partnership aligns missions around helping school children with vision problems.
• Special Olympics of PennsylvaniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPA Studies program has a chapter partnership with Special Olympics of Pennsylvania for student involvement and community service.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SUNY College of Optometry: Public optometry-focused college within the State University of New York system offering OD and residency programs. Competes directly with PCO for students and faculty in optometric education and research.
• Midwestern University: Private health sciences university with multiple colleges including optometry, physician assistant, OT, PT, SLP, and biomedical sciences. Highly comparable breadth and tuition-driven business model.
• Nova Southeastern University - College of Optometry: Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine-adjacent optometry program at a large private university in Florida. Offers OD and residencies plus broader health sciences, comparable to the multi-program Salus/Drexel model.
• Pacific University - College of Health Professions: Private university in Oregon with colleges of optometry, health professions, and PA studies. Comparable portfolio of health science programs with similar tuition-driven model.
• New England College of Optometry: Independent, single-focus optometry school in Boston with a long history of OD education and clinical training. Closest direct analog to PCO at Salus/Drexel Elkins Park given similar mission, scale, and standalone-school history.
• Illinois College of Optometry: Independent, single-purpose optometry college in Chicago offering the OD degree and clinical residency programs. Direct competitor for optometry applicants and an analog for clinical training model.
• University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO): Optometry school within a regional private university; PCO's dean Dr. Ibironke was a founding faculty member. Competes for the same OD applicant pool and runs similar mission-aligned programming.
• Southern College of Optometry: Private, single-purpose optometry school in Memphis with comparable OD program and residency offerings. Closely comparable in size, mission, and focus on optometric education.
• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS): Private health sciences university offering physician assistant, optometry, OT, SLP, and audiology programs. Closest multi-discipline health sciences peer with comparable program portfolio and tuition-driven model.

Regional players

• Thomas Jefferson University - College of Health Professions: Philadelphia-area university offering OT, PA, SLP, and other health professions programs. Operates in the same regional labor market and competes for the same applicant pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SalusUniversity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DrexelElkinsPark
• Facebookfacebook.com/136710773025912
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/salus-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/drexelelkinspark

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Salus University