Drexel University

What it reported doing in 2024

Instructiondrexel is a comprehensive national research university dedicated to providing quality undergraduate, graduate and professional education featuring excellent academics, state-of-the-art technology and a focus on real-world learning and service. Drexel is classified as an r1 research university in the carnegie classification of institutions of higher education - a rank that denotes the highest level of research activity, held by just 37 private universities around the country. Drexel disclosed 56 new inventions and received 25 new united states patents in fiscal year 2025. The university's mission serves traditional, adult and online students. Drexel offers nationally accredited programs that meet the changing needs of society, including more than 100 bachelor's degree programs and more than 120 graduate and professional degree programs organized in 17 colleges and schools: college of arts and sciences; school of biomedical engineering, science and health systems; bennett s. Lebow college of business; college of computing & informatics; school of education; college of engineering; charles d. Close school of entrepreneurship; pennoni honors college; thomas r. Kline school of law; antoinette westphal college of media arts & design; college of medicine; college of nursing and health professions; richard c. Goodwin college of professional studies; dana and david dornsife school of public health; school of economics; graduate school of biomedical sciences and professional studies and Pennsylvania college of optometry.most recently, following approval from the middle states commission on higher education (msche) accrediting body and the u.s. Department of education, drexel completed a merger with salus university that brings together the complementary strengths of both institutions in graduate health sciences education, research, and clinical practice. The merger strengthens drexel's place as a leader in preparing future interprofessional health sciences practitioners by adding renowned salus graduate degree programs such as optometry, audiology, blindness and low vision studies, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and orthotics and prosthetics. In addition, the merger with salus expands drexel's physician assistant program, graduate enrollment, and promote interdisciplinary research opportunities in new areas.drexel's strategic efforts focus on investing further in academic excellence, serving more students while improving the student experience and enhancing the university's global impact. Drexel has grown to become an economic engine for philadelphia, serving as one of the city's largest employers, generating millions of dollars in wage taxes, attracting external funding for research and key real estate development projects, investing in public schools, and supporting important community organizations.drexel's academic enterprise helps strengthen the neighborhoods around its campuses. Drexel has led and supported a number of projects that bring resources to the community. This includes working to bring grants to support local schools and early childhood education in west philadelphia. The university established its digital navigators program in 2021 to provide access to low-cost internet, devices and digital skills training to community members who are lacking access. Drexel is currently renovating the former west philadelphia community center to preserve its longstanding role in serving the local neighborhood with publicly accessible programs and activities. As part of its "academic transformation" initiative, drexel is reimagining the institution's future through the integration of programs and schools and a redesign of curriculum around core competencies. Drexel is also transitioning to a semester system. This shift will provide students with even greater flexibility as they pursue co-op and experiential learning opportunities. Driving these efforts is the university's steadfast commitment to delivering a

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 89.3%; rating input score 89
• Program expense ratio: 86.5%; rating input score 87
• Fundraising efficiency: $12.78 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Fail
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Pass
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.9%; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 89.5%; rating input score 89; 35th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -0.5%; rating input score 24; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.99; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.52; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 1%; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.3% per year; rating input score 100; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.8% per year; rating input score 100; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 5.9% per year; rating input score 100; 43rd percentile among comparable filings