Admit rate has ranged 69%–80% over the last 5 years — notably volatile, though the latest figure above (68%) falls outside that window. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Drew University is a private liberal arts college in Madison, New Jersey, that has carved out a distinctive niche as a practical, career-focused liberal arts school with a surprisingly accessible admissions process. With a campus nicknamed 'The Forest' for its 186 wooded acres just a train ride from Manhattan, Drew blends traditional liberal arts rigor with a pragmatic emphasis on transferable skills and real-world preparation. Its identity is defined by manageable academics, a tight-knit community vibe, and a strategic location that offers both suburban tranquility and easy access to the internships and culture of New York City.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,533
In-state tuition
$47,100
Out-of-state tuition
$47,100
Location
Madison, NJ (10 miles from NYC)
Graduation Rate
70%
Median Earnings (10yr)
$63,646
Students Receiving Aid
Over 85%
Early Decision Benefits
Priority registration, early parking
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$63,646
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.6×
Median debt at graduation
$25,288
Graduation rate
70%
First-year retention
88%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
70%
Pell (lower-income) share
29%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
24%
Financial health
0.6 / 3.0Below the federal standard — financial stress
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Economics$55,512
Business Administration, Management and Operations$47,260
Political Science and Government$43,240
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$39,369
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$35,954
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
1
Per 1,000 students
0.47
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
90
Summer high
84°F
Winter low
28°F
Annual rain
53.5"
Annual snow
21.7"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
167
Scholarly works
2,856
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
2.3%
Bottom → top quintile
57%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Drew University?
Drew University's acceptance rate is approximately 68% (Madison, NJ), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Drew University?
Admitted students at Drew University typically score 1103–1338 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Drew University cost?
At Drew University, the average net price (after aid) is about $24,280 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Drew University?
Drew University enrolls approximately 1,533 undergraduate students.
Where is Drew University located?
Drew University is located in Madison, NJ.
Admissions
Drew University operates with a moderately selective admissions process that has recently seen significant growth in applicant volume, setting new school records. The university is , allowing students to choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores for consideration. For those who do submit, the middle 50% SAT range is 1103–1338. The average high school GPA of admitted students is 3.53. Drew offers an Early Decision option, and students admitted through this binding plan receive benefits like priority registration for first-year fall classes and early parking privileges. While the overall rate (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) has been reported as low, the university's applicant pool is expanding, indicating growing interest. The admissions office uses the to report its policies, though the most recent publicly available set is from 2020-2021.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$35,416
Anthropology$31,670
Biology, General$29,685
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Academics at Drew are described by students as challenging yet manageable, with a workload that 'isn't overbearing.' The university grounds its curriculum in the development of practical, transferable skills like critical thinking, effective communication, and problem-solving. Drew offers a diverse array of undergraduate programs, with popular majors including Computer Science, Political Science and Government, Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, and English Language and Literature. The academic environment is particularly well-suited for students with a 3.5+ high school GPA who have demonstrated curiosity about a potential career or specific major. The university promotes itself as a hub of innovation and education, emphasizing a foundational liberal arts approach combined with career preparation.
Campus life at Drew is centered on a vibrant, wooded 186-acre campus known as 'The Forest.' The university provides a full suite of on-campus housing, support services, and a wide array of student activities and clubs managed by the Office of Student Engagement. Students describe a friendly culture where academics take up a good portion of the daytime, leaving evenings and weekends for social life, including parties. The campus offers resources like language and cultural advisors, academic coaching, and immigration support. While some online discussions query the vibrancy of student life, the university officially promotes an immersive experience with diverse activities and events designed to enrich the college experience. The location in Madison, New Jersey, places students about 10 miles west of Midtown Manhattan, offering easy train access to the internships and cultural offerings of New York City.
Drew University reports a strong overall graduation performance. According to the Department of Education's College Scorecard, the average annual cost is $24,280. Salary data shows progression for graduates, with median earnings reaching $47,562 six years after graduation. Other sources report earnings of $57,555 five years after graduation. The university demonstrates a commitment to career preparation as part of its practical liberal arts mission, aiming to provide a return on investment through its educational programs.
Drew University is committed to making education accessible and affordable, with over 85% of students receiving scholarships or grants. The university meets an estimated 82% of demonstrated financial need on average. Financial aid is packaged for admitted students who demonstrate need, typically consisting of grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. Students with no financial need may still be eligible for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and parents can apply for Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). Drew also offers merit scholarships to qualified students regardless of need. The university provides calculators on its admissions and financial aid websites to help families estimate their actual cost after aid. It's important to note that Drew does not have a 'no-loan' policy, where 100% of need is met with grants; loans remain a component of financial aid packages for many students.
Drew University stands out for its distinctive synthesis of a classic liberal arts education within a pragmatic, career-oriented framework, all set on a beautiful, forested campus with a direct line to New York City. It’s not a high-pressure ivory tower; it’s a place where 'classes are challenging enough and the workload isn't overbearing,' creating an academically serious but manageable environment. This balance makes it an ideal fit for the student who is intellectually curious but also practically minded, someone with a solid 3.5+ GPA who is already thinking about how their education translates to a career. The 'Forest' campus provides a serene, self-contained community, while the proximity to Manhattan—just a short train ride away—unlocks unparalleled internship, research, and cultural opportunities rarely available to liberal arts colleges. Drew’s growing applicant pool suggests it is successfully carving out this niche: a friendly, accessible liberal arts college that doesn’t just teach you to think, but helps you build a life.
Drew University seal · sourceDrew University Virtual Tour · sourceDrew University - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · sourceDrew Among the 30 Most Beautiful Campuses | Drew University · source
