Drexel University MSc Cybersecurity 2026:Admission,Fees,Scholarship and Placement

Drexel University Master of Science in Cybersecurity is a two-year, full-time, on-campus degree in Philadelphia requiring 45 quarter credits for Spring 2027 entry. Applicants need a relevant bachelor’s degree and a 3.0 GPA, approximately 75% to 80% or CGPA 7.5 to 8.0 on 10. The 2026-27 current-rate direct-cost illustration is US$64,700 (INR 61.57 Lakhs), before later-cycle increases.

The interdisciplinary course develops security engineering, networking, policy and risk skills through engineering and computing study. It best fits technically prepared applicants seeking specialist depth, while Spring starters trade Fall-only co-op access for the earlier intake. Their study also crosses Drexel’s August 2027 move from quarters to semesters.

• Students can customise technical electives across computer science, computing security and electrical and computer engineering.
• Optional research rotations and a thesis route support applicants considering security research or later doctoral study.
• Drexel lists the programme under CIP code 11.1003, which appears on the federal STEM degree list.

Also Check: Drexel University graduate admission

Drexel MS Cybersecurity Fees and Living Costs 2027

Drexel charges US$1,400 (INR 1.33 Lakhs) per quarter credit for School of Engineering study in 2026-27. The 45-credit course therefore gives a calculated tuition illustration of US$63,000 (INR 59.96 Lakhs) at that rate.

Spring 2027 cost basis: Drexel publishes the target-cycle rate, but charges after August 2027 will follow the new semester calendar and later tuition schedule. The programme illustration below holds the 2026-27 rate constant, so it is not a fixed invoice.

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 95.1675 as of 27 October 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

Source: Drexel University 2026-27 graduate tuition schedule, Engineering cost method and Cybersecurity catalog.

The US$64,700 (INR 61.57 Lakhs) illustration assumes 45 credits across five full-time terms at one rate. A Spring entrant should request a transition plan showing how remaining quarter credits convert after August 2027.

Cost of Living in Philadelphia for Cybersecurity Students

Drexel’s 2026-27 international estimate assigns US$20,502 (INR 19.51 Lakhs) to living expenses and US$10,756 (INR 10.24 Lakhs) to other costs. Monthly amounts below divide each official annual allowance by 12.

Drexel separately lists 2026-27 graduate housing at US$5,695 (INR 5.42 Lakhs) to US$7,940 (INR 7.56 Lakhs) per semester. Residence pricing includes internet, phone, cable and laundry, while the broader allowance serves first-year financial planning.

The official first-year illustration combines US$37,800 (INR 35.97 Lakhs) in tuition and fees with US$31,258 (INR 29.75 Lakhs) in non-tuition costs. That arithmetic gives US$69,058 (INR 65.72 Lakhs) for one 2026-27 academic year.

A full two-year all-in figure would mix published and unpublished rates because Drexel changes calendars in August 2027. Indian applicants should base education-loan principal on the admitted-student cost sheet and confirmed housing choice.

Read More: cost of living in the USA for students

ROI reality: The verified first-year estimate is US$69,058 (INR 65.72 Lakhs), while the current-rate programme illustration is US$64,700 (INR 61.57 Lakhs) before living costs. Request the semester-transition invoice before fixing the loan amount.

Drexel MS Cybersecurity Admission 2027

Admission requires a 3.0 GPA in the final two undergraduate years and prefers engineering, computer science or information technology preparation. Relevant technical foundations matter because the curriculum begins with security engineering, networking, risk and policy rather than introductory computing.

Academic Eligibility for Spring 2027

The GPA (grade point average) threshold is 3.0 on 4.0, approximately 75% to 80% or CGPA 7.5 to 8.0 on 10. Drexel publishes no India-specific conversion, so the university makes the final equivalency decision.

The curriculum is customisable, yet its 27 technical elective credits assume enough computing depth to choose advanced work responsibly. An applicant changing fields should document algorithms, networking, operating systems or security preparation instead of relying on general interest.

No current ranking specific to Drexel’s MS in Cybersecurity was verified. Broad university and computer science positions do not establish admission difficulty, technical fit or graduate employment for this course.

English Language Proficiency

Drexel accepts IELTS (International English Language Testing System), TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), PTE (Pearson Test of English) and Duolingo. The current Engineering policy publishes both TOEFL scales, so applicants should use the score reported by their test date.

• TOEFL applicants should follow Drexel’s stated 90 old-scale or 4.5 new-scale policy without converting scores themselves.
• IELTS 6.5, PTE 61 and Duolingo 110 offer clearly published alternatives when TOEFL reporting creates uncertainty.
• Applicants below the departmental level may be considered for Drexel’s five-week Graduate Preparation Program before degree study.

Because the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is optional, the selection case rests on academic results, technical evidence, recommendations and the essay. Spring applicants should also explain why starting before Drexel’s calendar conversion supports their course plan.

Check Out: Drexel University engineering courses

Tip for Indian students: A 3.0 GPA meets the stated academic threshold, but advanced security study still requires credible systems preparation. Use the essay and recommendations to prove readiness for the chosen technical electives.

Drexel MS Cybersecurity Application 2027

Spring 2027 is the earliest open on-campus intake, with a tentative international deadline of 15 January 2027. Spring and Summer entry are restricted, while Fall is the published route for full-time students seeking graduate co-op eligibility.

Forward-looking intake schedule: Drexel’s exact Cybersecurity page lists recurring deadlines without years. The 2027 dates are therefore tentative, while the Spring class start comes from the target-cycle academic calendar.

Drexel publishes neither a Cybersecurity decision date nor a cutoff time for these cycleless deadlines. An IST conversion is therefore impossible, and the portal timestamp controls whether the file arrived on time.

Application Steps for Indian Students

The application should connect technical preparation to a specific security problem because the degree permits substantial elective choice. A generic cybersecurity statement does not show readiness for Drexel’s interdisciplinary engineering and computing model.

• Open the official Drexel graduate application and select only the on-campus Cybersecurity MS because one programme application is permitted.
• Arrange official transcripts, degree certificates and precise English translations because mailed records can require three to four weeks for processing.
• Use the approximately 500-word essay to connect prior systems work with one security specialisation and a realistic professional objective.
• Confirm both recommenders before submission because missing letters can delay review beyond the intended intake deadline.

The application fee is US$65 (INR 6,186), and Spring entry begins about ten weeks after the tentative deadline. That interval must accommodate admission, funding confirmation, Form I-20 processing and visa arrangements.

A Spring applicant should obtain written approval for the restricted intake and a study plan spanning the calendar conversion. Applicants prioritising co-op should instead assess Fall 2027 because the current catalog ties that option to Fall-start, full-time campus study.

Application tip: Use 15 January 2027 as a tentative final date, but submit a complete file earlier and request Spring-entry confirmation. Choose Fall instead when six-month graduate co-op access is central to the degree decision.

Drexel MS Cybersecurity Scholarships 2027

Full-time international applicants receive automatic consideration for the School of Engineering Dean’s Scholarship at admission. Drexel currently publishes a minimum US$15,000 (INR 14.28 Lakhs) award for recipients with at least a 3.0 GPA.

Current published funding routes: Drexel does not attach these values to Spring 2027 or publish a separate course deadline. The admission offer and student portal therefore control the usable award and payment schedule.

The Engineering page says a US$15,000 (INR 14.28 Lakhs) Dean’s award normally distributes over five quarters. Its example allocates US$9,000 (INR 8.57 Lakhs) across three first-year payments of US$3,000 (INR 2.86 Lakhs).

• Model the Form I-20 budget without aid until the portal displays the exact scholarship and first-year allocation.
• Do not combine the 30% Lifelong Learner Award with another Drexel scholarship unless the written award terms permit it.
• Ask the Cybersecurity department about assistantships because Drexel describes teaching and research positions as limited and typically doctoral.

The Dean’s Scholarship could materially reduce the current-rate tuition illustration, but a net Spring 2027 cost would mix a cycleless award with future semester charges. Use the award letter only after Drexel confirms its application across the transition.

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Scholarship reality: Automatic review creates a credible funding route, and the current published Dean’s minimum is US$15,000 (INR 14.28 Lakhs). Affordability still depends on the individual offer and its treatment after calendar conversion.

Drexel MS Cybersecurity Salary 2027

Drexel publishes no Cybersecurity MS cohort salary, offer rate or sector distribution. The closest official evidence combines university-wide master’s outcomes, one individual co-op case and United States information-security labour data.

Graduate Outcome Evidence

Drexel’s One-Year-Out Alumni Survey covers every master’s programme in the graduating class of 2024. These results show institutional employment access, but they cannot predict a Cybersecurity student’s role, salary or work-authorisation outcome.

The programme page profiles one Cybersecurity student who completed co-ops in identity access, governance and risk engineering at three named companies. This case proves access is possible, not typical placement probability, recruitment volume or sponsorship.

Spring 2027 entrants face a sharper limitation because Drexel’s current catalog reserves the graduate co-op route for full-time campus students starting in Fall. Applicants choosing Spring should build career preparation around projects, research and independent job search.

Salary Benchmarks and Market Context

The salary evidence below separates Drexel’s university-wide average from external occupation benchmarks. BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) data cover the national workforce, including experienced professionals, rather than recent Drexel graduates.

Source: Drexel One-Year-Out Alumni Survey for the class of 2024 and BLS May 2025 information security analyst data.

BLS projects 21% employment growth from 2025 to 2035 and about 14,100 annual information-security analyst openings. This national forecast includes replacement demand and does not measure Drexel placement probability.

ROI for Indian Applicants

The verified first-year estimate is US$69,058 (INR 65.72 Lakhs), while current-rate direct programme charges illustrate US$64,700 (INR 61.57 Lakhs) before living costs. Course-level pay data remain unavailable, so the return decision carries material evidence risk.

• The US$64,700 (INR 61.57 Lakhs) illustration holds one rate constant, so request transition billing before comparing education-loan offers.
• The current Dean’s minimum is US$15,000 (INR 14.28 Lakhs), but reduce borrowing only after the portal confirms the actual award.
• Spring entry lacks the published co-op route, so exclude co-op earnings from every repayment and cash-flow model.
• The US$129,180 (INR 1.23 Crore) national median includes experienced workers, so test debt against actual entry-level offers instead.
• The STEM classification may support 36 months of OPT, but use that window to gain experience without assuming later sponsorship.

For a United States plan, Fall entry provides the stronger experiential structure because eligible students can compete for graduate co-op. For an India return, value rests on demonstrable security projects and specialist depth, not converted United States salaries.

Gross salary differs from take-home pay because federal, state and local taxes depend on income, residence and filing status. Test an actual offer with the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator before setting repayment assumptions.

ROI reality: Drexel offers technical breadth and a strong external market, but Spring entry removes the published co-op route and course-level outcomes remain unavailable. Enrol only when the final invoice, written aid and no-co-op career plan are viable.

USA Visa for Drexel MS Cybersecurity Students 2027

Admitted full-time Indian students normally use F-1 student status after Drexel issues Form I-20. The programme’s CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code 11.1003 appears on the federal STEM degree list. OPT (Optional Practical Training) provides 12 months of degree-related work, while an eligible STEM extension can add 24 months. Permanent residence requires a separate employment or family route.

• Budget US$185 (INR 17,606) for the visa application and US$350 (INR 33,309) for the I-901 SEVIS fee.
• The STEM route can provide a potential 36-month OPT window when the graduate, job and employer meet federal requirements.
• H-1B employment requires the higher applicable actual or prevailing wage, so no single national salary threshold applies to this degree.
• An F-2 spouse or unmarried child under 21 may accompany the student but cannot work in that status.

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Visa reality: Visa and SEVIS charges total US$535 (INR 50,915), while the STEM classification can support up to 36 months of OPT. Neither benefit guarantees H-1B selection, employer sponsorship or permanent residence.