Master of Science [MSc] (Mechanical Engineering)
Field of Study:
Drexel University Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering is an 18-month, full-time, on-campus degree in Philadelphia requiring engineering or science preparation. For Spring 2027, published 2026-27 inputs produce calculated academic charges of US$64,700 (INR 61.57 Lakhs), while later semester rates remain unpublished.
The 45-quarter-credit curriculum combines analytical methods with two core areas and thesis or non-thesis depth before Drexel’s calendar transition. It suits applicants seeking focused preparation in manufacturing, mechanics, controls or thermal-fluid systems.
- Four specialization areas let students connect advanced analysis with robotics, energy, materials or manufacturing applications.
- The thesis route assigns 9 to 15 credits to supervised research, while non-thesis students receive broader elective capacity.
- Graduate Co-op offers applied experience for eligible Fall starters, so Spring applicants must assess speed against work-placement access.
Current Admission Status
Applications for the Spring 2027 intake are Open. International student deadline: Tentative 15 January 2027.
Drexel publishes 15 January as its recurring international Spring deadline without attaching a year. Indian applicants need departmental permission and should submit by 14 January 2027 IST.
Also Check: Drexel University graduate admission
Drexel MS Mechanical Engineering Fees and Living Costs 2027
Drexel charges US$1,400 per quarter credit (INR 1.33 Lakhs) for School of Engineering programmes in 2026-27. Applying that rate to 45 credits produces the current-rate tuition illustration below.
Spring 2027 cost basis: The table uses the international engineering rate, five academic terms in Drexel’s sample plan and required fees published for 2026-27.
| Fee component | Amount in US$ | INR equivalent | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition per quarter credit | US$1,400 | INR 1.33 Lakhs | Published School of Engineering rate |
| Calculated 45-credit tuition | US$63,000 | INR 59.96 Lakhs | US$1,400 multiplied by 45 quarter credits |
| General full-time fee per quarter | US$280 | INR 26,647 | Charged for each full-time quarter |
| First-year programme fee | US$300 | INR 28,550 | Charged once during the first year |
| Calculated tuition and required fees | US$64,700 | INR 61.57 Lakhs | Tuition plus five term fees and the first-year fee |
Source: Drexel’s 2026-27 graduate tuition schedule and live Mechanical Engineering sample plan.
All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of US$ 1 = INR 95.1675 as of 27 October 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.
The US$64,700 (INR 61.57 Lakhs) figure is calculated from published inputs rather than quoted as a fixed programme price. Drexel changes to semesters on 23 August 2027.
The preliminary 2027-28 catalog redesigns the degree as 30 semester credits, but the later tuition rate remains unpublished. Spring starters therefore need a personalised billing map before enrollment.
Cost of Living in Philadelphia for Mechanical Engineering Students
Drexel’s 2026-27 international estimate provides nine-month living and other costs without a separate rent, food or insurance breakdown. Monthly figures below divide each official category by nine.
Official nine-month basis: The estimate covers three quarters of full-time engineering study and remains separate from residence prices and visa expenses.
| Expense | Monthly US$ | Monthly INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Living expenses | US$2,278 | INR 2.17 Lakhs |
| Other costs | US$1,195.11 | INR 1.14 Lakhs |
| Calculated monthly total | US$3,473.11 | INR 3.31 Lakhs |
| Calculated 12-month total | US$41,677.33 | INR 39.66 Lakhs |
| Official nine-month total | US$31,258 | INR 29.75 Lakhs |
Drexel’s School of Engineering attendance estimate is US$69,058 (INR 65.72 Lakhs) for 27 quarter credits plus nine-month non-tuition costs. It supports financial documentation, not the entire degree budget.
A calculated 18-month planning illustration is US$127,216 (INR 1.21 Crore). It combines US$64,700 (INR 61.57 Lakhs) in academic charges with two US$31,258 (INR 29.75 Lakhs) non-tuition estimates.
Read More: cost of living in the USA for international students
Semester-transition risk
Verify later rates on the official graduate fee page, then request a written plan showing converted credits and revised billing periods.
Key insight: The current rate supports a US$64,700 (INR 61.57 Lakhs) academic-cost illustration, but Spring entrants need a semester-transition billing plan before enrollment.
Drexel MS Mechanical Engineering Admission 2027
Drexel recommends a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on 4.0 in an engineering or related degree. Mechanical engineering preparation is direct, while adjacent science or engineering backgrounds can require prerequisite courses.
Spring 2027 academic basis: The 3.0 benchmark is approximately 75% to 80%, or Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) 7.5 to 8.0 on 10. Drexel decides official equivalency.
| Criterion | Published requirement | Indian-applicant meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Prior degree | US bachelor’s equivalent in engineering or a related science discipline | Mechanical engineering gives the most direct preparation |
| Academic benchmark | Recommended GPA 3.0 on 4.0 overall or across the final two undergraduate years | Approximately 75% to 80%, or CGPA 7.5 to 8.0 on 10 |
| Preparatory coursework | Applicants outside mechanical engineering may need undergraduate courses that do not count toward the degree | Ask the department to identify deficiencies before accepting admission |
| Graduate Record Examination | Optional for Master of Science applicants | Submit only when the result strengthens evidence beyond the transcript |
| Work experience | No minimum duration is published | Use projects or employment to demonstrate preparation for the selected core areas |
The 3.0 GPA is a recommendation, not a published admitted-cohort average. Drexel provides no Mechanical Engineering selectivity profile, so prerequisite coverage and technical evidence matter more than unsupported admission odds.
Applicants choosing the thesis route should identify a research direction in mechanics, manufacturing, controls or thermal-fluid sciences. Drexel advises thesis study for students planning doctoral work.
English Language Requirements
International applicants normally submit an approved English test unless they qualify for Drexel’s published exemption. The current engineering policy states both Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scales used after 21 January 2026.
Current score policy: The exact programme page supplies the Duolingo minimum, while the engineering guidance defines the revised TOEFL route.
| Test or route | Minimum | Application implication |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 90 on the old scale or 4.5 on the new scale | Report the testing provider’s scale without self-conversion |
| International English Language Testing System Academic | 6.5 overall | No programme-level component minimum is published |
| Pearson Test of English Academic | 61 | Send the official result with the application record |
| Duolingo English Test | 110 | The exact Mechanical Engineering page publishes this score |
| English exemption | Graduation from a United States institution of higher education | No automatic India English-medium waiver is published |
- Choose IELTS, PTE or revised TOEFL only after confirming enough preparation time before the tentative Spring deadline.
- Map mathematics, mechanics and the selected specialization against prior coursework before requesting departmental permission.
- Use laboratory, design or simulation projects to demonstrate readiness when the bachelor’s discipline is adjacent to mechanical engineering.
Also Check: Drexel University engineering courses
Background-gap action
Non-mechanical graduates may receive extra undergraduate preparation that adds time without degree credit. Request a written deficiency review before calculating the final schedule.
Tip for Indian students: Treat the 3.0 GPA as one readiness signal, then prove mathematics, mechanics and specialization preparation through transcripts and technical work.
Drexel MS Mechanical Engineering Application 2027
Spring 2027 applications are open, but international applicants need departmental permission before applying for this restricted start. Drexel publishes recurring deadlines without years, decision dates, cutoff times or timezones.
Forward application calendar: These expected dates map Drexel’s live recurring international deadlines to future intakes. Winter 2027 closed before the research date and is omitted.
| Intake | International deadline | Programme condition |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | Expected 15 January 2027 | Restricted entry and departmental permission required |
| Summer 2027 | Expected 1 April 2027 | Restricted entry and departmental permission required |
| Fall 2027 | Expected 1 June 2027 | Standard start under the 30-semester-credit curriculum |
Drexel gives no reliable basis for an exact IST cutoff conversion, so submit before the listed date begins in India. The application also lacks a published decision date.
How to Build the Spring 2027 Application
The file requires transcripts, an approximately 500-word personal essay, a resume and two recommendation letters. The application fee is US$65 (INR 6,186), and Engineering offers no fee waiver.
- Obtain written departmental permission before selecting Spring because Drexel restricts international non-Fall consideration.
- Connect one mechanical problem with the chosen core area, then show relevant analysis, design, simulation or research experience.
- Ask academic or supervisory recommenders to describe quantitative preparation and independent technical work with specific evidence.
- Submit electronic transcripts where permitted because Drexel warns that mailed documents can require three to four weeks for processing.
Applicants can submit materials through the official Drexel graduate application. The open portal does not replace departmental permission for Spring consideration.
Drexel permits only one programme application, so select Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics accurately. A later change can affect departmental review and the transition study plan.
Calendar-change action
Request a term map covering quarter courses, converted semester credits and thesis or non-thesis sequencing. Spring entry should not be accepted without this academic and billing plan.
Application tip: Spring 2027 is the earliest open route, but departmental permission and a written conversion plan should precede the US$65 (INR 6,186) payment.
Drexel MS Mechanical Engineering Scholarships 2027
Drexel automatically reviews admitted Engineering students for several current published awards. Mechanical Engineering also qualifies for a department-specific fellowship, although Spring 2027 values and deadlines remain unpublished.
Current award context: Percentage benefits are reproduced as published because later semester tuition is unavailable. No older fee is used to invent a Spring 2027 award amount.
| Award | Published benefit | Eligibility and route |
|---|---|---|
| School of Engineering Dean’s Scholarship | A percentage of tuition determined with admission | Domestic or international full-time master’s applicants receive merit review at acceptance |
| Kling-Lindquist Partnership Engineering Fellowship | Financial assistance stated in the offer | Automatic review for Mechanical Engineering and related department applicants, with preference for architectural interests |
| Leroy L. Resser Fund | One-time first-year scholarship | Automatic review for full-time School of Engineering master’s applicants |
| Drexel Lifelong Learner Award | 30% of tuition charges only | Eligible Drexel alumni; cannot combine with another Drexel award |
| Fulbright Foreign Student support | 30% of tuition and fees | Qualifying Fulbright grantees enrolled full-time in Engineering |
The Kling-Lindquist fellowship specifically includes Mechanical Engineering, making it more relevant than a generic funding list. However, Drexel gives architectural interests preference and publishes no individual value.
- Submit the strongest academic file because the Dean’s Scholarship and department awards are decided with admission.
- Describe architectural, manufacturing or design interests accurately when they align with Kling-Lindquist preference rather than reshaping an unrelated profile.
- Identify Fulbright status during the funding discussion because its 30% benefit depends on holding that external grantee status.
- Do not calculate a net price until Drexel confirms the award, semester conversion and distribution in writing.
Teaching and research assistantships are limited and typically offered to doctoral students. A Mechanical Engineering master’s applicant should therefore treat assistantship funding as uncertain until the department issues a written offer.
Read More: scholarships in the USA for Indian students
Funding timing
Spring 2027 award deadlines and individual values remain unpublished. Treat every reduction as unconfirmed until it appears in the admission portal or award letter.
Scholarship reality: Automatic review reduces application effort, but target-cycle values remain unknown. Build the loan plan from the gross cost until a written award arrives.
Drexel MS Mechanical Engineering Salary 2027
Drexel publishes no Mechanical Engineering MS salary or offer rate after successful official checks. The nearest university evidence covers all master’s graduates, so it cannot predict this course’s outcome.
The Class of 2024 one-year-out survey reports 93% employed, with 61% of employed master’s graduates in a new job. It also records 88% employment satisfaction.
Evidence scope: Drexel’s figure is university-wide, while federal figures are external occupational benchmarks. Neither source reports an international Mechanical Engineering MS starting salary.
| Evidence | Annual amount in US$ | INR equivalent | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drexel master’s average salary | US$91,354 | INR 86.94 Lakhs | All master’s graduates, Class of 2024 one year after graduation |
| Mechanical engineer median | US$104,110 | INR 99.08 Lakhs | External federal May 2025 United States occupational benchmark |
| Scientific research and development median | US$132,040 | INR 1.26 Crore | External federal May 2025 industry benchmark for mechanical engineers |
| Machinery manufacturing median | US$98,620 | INR 93.85 Lakhs | External federal May 2025 industry benchmark for mechanical engineers |
Source: Drexel’s Class of 2024 master’s survey and US Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 mechanical engineer data.
The federal benchmark projects 11% employment growth from 2025 to 2035. This measure describes the occupation rather than Drexel hiring volume, international sponsorship or graduate placement probability.
Drexel presents one Mechanical Engineering student’s work on patient-specific surgical instruments during co-op. The case proves access to applied projects, but one experience cannot establish a typical outcome.
Mechanical Engineering Return on Investment
The calculated 18-month planning cost reaches US$127,216 (INR 1.21 Crore) before any confirmed award. Missing course-level outcomes prevent a defensible payback calculation.
- Drexel’s 93% employment rate is university-wide, so request Mechanical Engineering outcomes before using it as a repayment input.
- The US$104,110 (INR 99.08 Lakhs) occupation median is gross market pay, so compare target roles, locations and experience levels before modelling debt.
- Graduate Co-op reports US$1,098 (INR 1.04 Lakhs) average weekly pay school-wide, but Spring starters lack standard Fall-entry eligibility.
- The Mechanical Engineering classification supports a possible 36-month practical-training window, so test borrowing against this finite period.
- Drexel publishes no India-return salary evidence, so price rupee repayments against verified Indian offers in the intended specialization.
Take-home pay varies by federal, state and local tax status, while every salary above is gross. Use the Internal Revenue Service withholding estimator only when its residency conditions apply.
ROI reality: The curriculum and applied project access support career development, but missing course outcomes make the US$127,216 (INR 1.21 Crore) planning cost evidence-sensitive.
US Visa for Drexel MS Mechanical Engineering Students 2027
Indian students normally use F-1 status and should follow the official student visa process. The visa fee is US$185 (INR 17,606), while the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System fee is US$350 (INR 33,309). Combined charges total US$535 (INR 50,915). Drexel publishes Classification of Instructional Programs code 14.1901, which supports Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics classification.
- Optional Practical Training permits up to 12 months, while code 14.1901 can support a further 24-month extension for eligible employment.
- H-1B sponsorship uses the higher applicable actual or prevailing wage rather than one national threshold, so employer evidence controls eligibility.
- F-2 spouses and unmarried children under 21 may accompany the student, but F-2 dependants cannot work in the United States.
- The degree creates no automatic permanent-residence route or fixed settlement timeline, so evaluate sponsorship separately from admission.
Read More: post-study work options in the USA
Visa reality: The potential 36-month practical-training window improves job-search flexibility, but employer eligibility and sponsorship remain separate from Drexel admission.
Drexel MS Mechanical Engineering Ranking 2027
Drexel’s current programme page reports #53 for Mechanical Engineering in the U.S. News & World Report 2023 graduate ranking. This is discipline-specific, not an overall university position.
Published ranking context: Drexel provides no previous position from the same ranking on that page, so a direction-of-travel claim is unsupported.
| Ranking | Position | Edition | Applicant use |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. News graduate Mechanical Engineering | #53 | 2023 | One discipline signal beside curriculum, research alignment and cost |
The position supports an initial academic shortlist, but it does not measure Spring co-op access, current graduate outcomes or scholarship probability. Evaluate those programme-specific gaps independently.
Check Out: Drexel University ranking context
Honest take: The #53 discipline position supports academic visibility, but specialization fit and the semester-transition plan carry more decision value for Spring 2027.
Drexel’s Mechanical Engineering MS fits quantitatively prepared applicants seeking flexible depth in manufacturing, mechanics, controls or thermal-fluid systems. Its thesis and non-thesis routes support research or industry-focused plans, while laboratory access connects analysis with physical systems. The tradeoff is a costly Spring start that crosses the semester conversion and lacks standard Fall-entry co-op access. Secure departmental permission, a converted study plan and written funding before paying the application fee.
Drexel MS Mechanical Engineering FAQs
Ques. Should an international applicant choose Spring 2027 or wait for Fall 2027?
Ans. Spring 2027 is the earliest open intake, but it needs departmental permission and crosses the semester conversion. Fall follows the redesigned curriculum and is the standard Graduate Co-op route. Choose Spring only after receiving a converted study plan. Applicants prioritising co-op should obtain a written Fall comparison.
Ques. Should I choose the thesis or non-thesis Mechanical Engineering route?
Ans. The thesis route uses 9 to 15 credits for supervised research and suits applicants considering doctoral study. Non-thesis students use the space for broader technical electives. Compare the intended specialization with faculty research before choosing. A missing adviser match weakens the practical case for thesis study.
Ques. What is a realistic Spring 2027 budget for this degree?
Ans. Published inputs create US$64,700 (INR 61.57 Lakhs) in calculated academic charges at current rates. Two official nine-month non-tuition estimates produce a US$127,216 (INR 1.21 Crore) planning illustration. Later semester rates remain unpublished. Obtain a personalised quotation before arranging loans.
Ques. Is a 3.0 GPA enough for Drexel Mechanical Engineering?
Ans. A 3.0 on 4.0 is approximately 75% to 80%, or CGPA 7.5 to 8.0 on 10, for planning. Drexel treats it as recommended rather than publishing admission odds. Applicants from adjacent disciplines should request a deficiency review because extra undergraduate courses add time without degree credit.
Ques. Does the Mechanical Engineering MS justify its cost through jobs?
Ans. Drexel publishes no course-specific salary or offer rate, so the degree cannot support a verified payback forecast. Federal data report a US$104,110 (INR 99.08 Lakhs) mechanical engineer median, not graduate starting pay. The possible 36-month practical-training window adds time, not employment certainty. Compare debt with verified role-specific offers before borrowing.
Important Alert
- Spring 2027 international application deadline - Jan 15, 2027
Tuition Fees
| Credit | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | $37800 |
Other Expenses
| Head | Avg Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Living Expenses | $19809 |
| Health Insurance | $3178 |
Previous Year Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $40260 |
| 2023 | $40260 |
| 2022 | $20130 |
Important Dates
| Event | Application Date |
|---|---|
| Winter 2027 international application deadline | |
| Spring 2027 international application deadline | Jan 15, 2027 |
| Fall 2027 international application deadline | Jun 1, 2027 |
Scores Required
Required Document List
- Online Application Form
- Application Fee
- Official Transcripts
- Proof of Degree
- English Language Test Scores
- Statement of Purpose
- Letters of Recommendation
- Copy of Passport

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TOP Scholarships
| Scholarship name | Award amount | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Dean's Award Scholarship | 15,000 | Recipients must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher to continue receiving the award. |
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