As of September 2025, Drexel University announced an 18-position jump in the U.S. News & World Report national university rankings. This puts the university at No. 74, in a tie with Colorado School of Mines, New Jersey Institute of Technology and Stevens Institute of Technology. This is the third consecutive year that Drexel’s rank has risen within the list. In addition to the college ranking, Drexel ranks No. 2 in Co-ops/Internships, No. 42 in Most Innovative Schools, and No. 50 in Best Colleges for Veterans.
The university attributes this increase to long-term improvements in retention rates, which, according to the Office of Institutional Research, Assessment and Accreditation, significantly dipped in 2020 and have been slowly rising since. Additionally, internal focuses on student-facing programs and services have also been cited as important developments contributing to university success.
The university has also demonstrated significant rankings in specialized programs. Specifically, the College of Computing & Informatics has seen its Library & Information Science program rise to 13th in the nation, up one position from its 2021 ranking.
The change in ranking comes among significant structural changes to Drexel’s academic structure. As previously reported, on July 3, 2025, Drexel officially merged with Salus University, increasing the overall health science program offerings and scope of Drexel Health. In addition, the university will officially transition from its current quarter system structure to a semester-based model, similar to most universities in the United States.
In addition to the U.S. News & World Report, Drexel has seen movement in other lists. In the QS World University rankings, though, this shift was downward. Compared to the 601st position in 2024, Drexel has risen to the 721st position as of 2025, a nearly 120-rank jump. However, in a new book, ‘DREAM SCHOOL: Finding the College That’s Right for You,’ published by bestselling author Jeffrey Selingo, Drexel was named a “dream school” among 74 other universities.
With the significant shifts in academic structure at Drexel over the next few years, it remains to be seen how the university’s rankings adapt to fit the changing model of the school.