INTO Drew University: Pathway Admissions, Tuition & Scholarships Guide for International Students

INTO Drew University is a pathway program that helps international students prepare for, and progress into, a US bachelor's degree at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. It is not a separate university, and it is not the same thing as a Drew degree: students first complete a structured program of language support, academic skills, and credit-bearing coursework, and then, if they meet the progression requirements, continue into their third year of a Drew bachelor's degree or at other US universities. This guide covers exactly what INTO Drew University international students need to know: how the pathway works, Drew's own reputation, admissions requirements, tuition costs, scholarships, campus life, and US Optional Practical Training.

Quick facts snapshot

• Program type: pathway program run in partnership between INTO and Drew University
• Location: Madison, New Jersey, about a 47-minute train ride from Manhattan
• Main routes: International Year One (a program lasting four semesters) and an Undergraduate Transfer program
• Subject streams: Business, Humanities and Social Sciences, Pre-Engineering, Sciences, Computer Science, the Arts, and General studies
• Pathway tuition: about US$22,930 per year, or US$45,860 for four semesters
• Drew University founded: 1867; undergraduate enrollment of about 1,600 (fall 2024)
• Drew's US News 2026 National Liberal Arts Colleges ranking: tied for #84
• Progression condition: minimum 2.0 GPA each semester to stay in good academic standing

Rankings and reputation

The pathway itself is not ranked. Reputation belongs to Drew University, a small private liberal arts university founded in 1867, which U.S. News ranked tied for #84 among National Liberal Arts Colleges in its 2026 Best Colleges list and the only New Jersey liberal arts college in the top 100. Drew also ranked 72nd on U.S. News's Best Value Schools list, its first appearance in the top 75 in several years. Drew has a reported acceptance rate of about 68% and a student-to-faculty ratio of 11 to 1. It does not appear in the QS or Times Higher Education world tables in the way that large research universities do, so applicants should treat Drew as a small, teaching-focused liberal arts institution.

Academics and how the pathway works

International Year One combines intensive English, academic skills, and coursework that earns credit toward a bachelor's degree, so time spent on the pathway counts toward graduation. Students choose a stream such as business, pre-engineering, sciences, computer science, or arts, and each is assigned an academic coach at the Tilghman International Center who helps them plan the move into Drew. On successful completion, and if they meet undergraduate admission requirements, students can enter the third year of an undergraduate degree at Drew or at a number of other US universities. Because the pathway covers the first two years, it is best understood as a route into years three and four of a bachelor's degree, not as a shortcut around them.

Admissions and international eligibility

Pathway entry is designed for students who do not yet meet the English or academic requirements for direct admission to a US bachelor's degree, so the thresholds are lower than Drew's own. Applicants apply through INTO, and the requirements for the pathway differ from those for direct entry to Drew University, which is more selective.

English language requirements

• IELTS Academic: 5.5 overall, with no sub-score below 5.0
• TOEFL iBT: 60, with minimum sub-scores of 11
• PTE Academic: 44; Duolingo English Test: 90
• Confirm current thresholds with INTO before booking a test, since they can change between intakes

Application checklist

Applicants typically submit secondary school or university transcripts, proof of English proficiency, and passport details, and, after admission, obtain the I-20 form needed for an F-1 student visa. SAT and ACT scores are not normally required for pathway entry.

Tuition, living costs, and scholarships

The pathway costs about US$22,930 per year, which is US$45,860 over four semesters. Once you progress into a Drew bachelor's degree, you pay Drew's own rates, listed at about US$49,100 in tuition and fees, so the pathway years are cheaper per year than the degree years that follow.

Estimated living costs in Madison, New Jersey

• Madison is a small, suburban town, and housing and living costs are lower than in Manhattan but above the US average
• F-1 visa applicants must show proof of funds covering tuition and living costs
• New Jersey Transit trains connect Madison to New York City, which suits students seeking internships
• On-campus housing and meal plans offer predictable costs in the first years
• F-1 rules restrict off-campus work, so budget as though you will have little income while studying

Scholarships for international students

Pathway entrants to Drew are typically eligible for scholarships of up to US$10,000 per year, and students who achieve a minimum GPA of 3.25 in International Year One or the Undergraduate Transfer program can qualify for US$7,000 per year. The scholarship is renewable in years three and four if the student maintains a 2.0 GPA. Award values and conditions change, so confirm the current terms with INTO and Drew.

Campus life and student support

Drew's wooded campus in Madison is small and residential, with an 11-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio that supports close contact with professors. Pathway students are supported by the Tilghman International Center and an academic coach, which is a practical advantage for students adjusting to US classroom expectations. The setting is quiet, and students who want city life travel to Manhattan by train.

Career outcomes, dual degrees, and post-study work rights

Drew offers dual-degree options in engineering, in which students spend three years at Drew and then two or three years at Columbia University or Washington University in St. Louis, earning a Drew degree and an engineering degree from the partner. These routes are demanding and have their own admission conditions, so ask INTO exactly what is required before choosing a pre-engineering stream.

US Optional Practical Training

After completing a degree in the United States, F-1 students can apply for Optional Practical Training, which allows up to 12 months of work related to their field, extendable by 24 months for graduates of STEM-designated programs. OPT is tied to the degree program, so the pathway years alone do not give post-study work rights, and rules change, so confirm eligibility with the university's international office.

Health insurance and pre-arrival preparation

International students on F-1 visas are generally required to carry health insurance meeting the university's standards. New students should budget for the SEVIS I-901 fee, the visa application fee, and flights, and should prepare for a visa interview whose wait times vary by country. After arrival, students usually open a bank account and learn US tax filing obligations, which apply even without income.

A realistic four-year budget

Two years on the pathway at about US$22,930 per year total US$45,860, and two years at Drew's listed rate of about US$49,100 add another US$98,200, giving about US$144,060 in tuition before scholarships and living costs. A pathway scholarship of US$7,000 to US$10,000 per year over four years would reduce that by US$28,000 to US$40,000, but only if the conditions are met, and Drew's fees may rise. Housing, meals, books, and insurance are additional.

Questions to ask before you accept an offer

• Is progression to Drew guaranteed if I meet the GPA requirement, and what happens if I do not?
• Which US universities accept International Year One graduates besides Drew, and on what conditions?
• Is the scholarship automatic, how much is it, and what GPA keeps it?
• What are the total costs across all four years, including any fee increases?
• How do credits from the pathway transfer if I move to another university?
• Which pathway streams lead to STEM-designated degrees that qualify for STEM OPT?

Who INTO Drew suits best

The pathway suits students who want a US bachelor's degree at a small liberal arts university, but whose English or academic preparation is not yet at the level of direct entry, and who value structured support in the first two years. It may suit less well students who already meet direct-entry requirements, since going straight into a bachelor's degree may be quicker and, depending on scholarships, cheaper, or students who want a large research university.

Step-by-step application roadmap

1. Choose a stream and decide between International Year One and the Undergraduate Transfer program.
2. Check the English requirement and book a test if needed.
3. Apply through INTO with transcripts and passport details.
4. Accept your offer and pay the deposit, then receive your I-20.
5. Apply for your F-1 visa and arrange health insurance.
6. Book housing and travel, and attend orientation at the Tilghman International Center.

Planning your application timeline realistically

Allow time for the I-20, the visa interview, and travel, and ask INTO about the application deadlines for each intake. Start scholarship conversations early, and keep evidence of your funds ready.

What to expect in your first months

The first semester of the pathway usually combines English support with credit-bearing courses, so expect a heavier workload than a language course alone. Students are encouraged to meet their academic coach early, attend the orientation at the Tilghman International Center, and learn how US classes work, including participation grades, regular assignments, and the importance of a semester GPA, since a 2.0 minimum is needed to stay in good standing.

Frequently asked questions