Admit rate has ranged 69%–80% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. 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 small, selective liberal arts college in Madison, New Jersey, with a quirky intellectual vibe and surprising proximity to New York City (just 50 minutes away). Known for its strong theater and political science programs, Drew combines rigorous academics with a tight-knit community, though some students find campus life quieter than expected. With a 68% acceptance rate and a test-optional policy, it attracts students with solid B+ averages who want a traditional college experience with urban opportunities.
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 (50 mins to NYC)
Acceptance Rate
68%
Graduation Rate
72%
Notable Programs
Theater, Political Science, Computer Science
Median Earnings (1 Yr)
$36,427
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
50%
First-generation share
24%
Endowment / student
$82,657
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
0.65
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 is somewhat selective, admitting 68% of applicants (3,408 out of 5,024 in 2024), though applications have recently hit record highs. The middle 50% of admitted students have SAT scores between 1120–1330 or ACT scores of 22–29, with an average GPA of 3.53. Drew is test-optional, allowing applicants to skip SAT/ACT submissions. Notably, the school has seen a surge in interest, with 2024 marking a historic high in applications—a trend attributed to its career-focused LAUNCH program and proximity to NYC.
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
Drew offers 40+ majors, including standout programs in theater arts, political science, and computer science (each accounting for ~5% of degrees). The curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, with 60+ minors and 18 dual-degree programs, including a notable 3+2 engineering track with Columbia. The LAUNCH program integrates career prep into academics, leveraging Drew’s proximity to NYC for internships. Classes are small—Princeton Review highlights the “top-notch faculty” and intimate seminars. One reviewer notes Drew is ideal for students with 3.5+ GPAs who’ve shown early career curiosity.
Campus life at Drew is a mix of charm and quiet. The wooded, Gothic-style campus (dubbed “The University in the Forest”) offers clubs, theater productions, and Division III sports, but some students describe it as sleepy—one College Confidential poster noted it was “strangely quiet” even outside breaks. Still, there are 100+ student organizations, including a strong arts scene and multicultural groups. Housing is guaranteed, with options from traditional dorms to themed houses. Madison, a quaint town with cafes and bookstores, is walkable, while NYC’s energy is a short train ride away.
Drew reports a 72% graduation rate (top 25% nationally), with median earnings of $36,427 one year post-graduation. Alumni outcomes vary by program: theater and liberal arts grads often pursue NYC internships, while science majors benefit from Drew’s health-focused partnerships. Notably, Charles R. Drew University (a separate institution) reports higher earnings ($113k median for med grads), but Drew’s own career services emphasize networking and NYC access. About 89% of graduates are employed or in grad school within six years.
Tuition and fees total $67,000, but the average net price (after aid) drops to $33,618. Drew offers merit scholarships ($15k–$30k/year) and need-based grants. The Drew Scholarship covers up to $120k over four years, while smaller awards like the CSAT Scholarship ($2k/year) target specific achievements. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator helps estimate costs, though 40% of students receive federal aid. For context, earnings one year post-grad are roughly equal to the net price.
Drew’s niche is its contradictions: a serene, forested campus with NYC at its doorstep; a traditional liberal arts college with a pragmatic career program (LAUNCH); and a theater program that punches above its weight alongside growing STEM offerings. It’s for students who want small classes and professor access but crave urban opportunities. The vibe is intellectual but unpretentious—think late-night poetry readings followed by a train ride to Broadway. Just know: if you thrive on constant campus buzz, Drew’s quietude might surprise you.
Drew University logo · sourceDrew University Virtual Tour · sourceDrew University - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · sourceDrew Among the 30 Most Beautiful Campuses | Drew University · source
