Drexel University’s merger with Salus University of Elkins Park (Cheltenham Township) is complete as of July 3, the university announced today. The institutions received final approval of the merger from the U.S. Department of Education.

With the approval, all student financial aid and academic records have been transferred to Drexel’s systems.

“On this momentous occasion I am thrilled to welcome Salus students, faculty and professional staff to our community,” said Drexel President Antonio Merlo, PhD, “This is an exciting new chapter in health sciences education that unites the strengths of our two institutions. Our path forward as a unified institution holds immense promise and opportunity. I extend my deepest gratitude to all who have dedicated their time, energy and unwavering commitment to bringing us to this pivotal moment.”

The prospect of a merger emerged in the spring of 2023. The institutions formalized their agreement with a signing ceremony on June 13, 2023, after their boards of trustees approved a path toward a merger.

The merger expands Drexel’s footprint to include the Elkins Park Campus just north of Philadelphia and Salus’ three clinical facilities in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties that provide highly specialized vision, hearing and balance, and speech-language pathology services. 

Most programs in the current Osborne College of Audiology and College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation will merge into Drexel’s College of Nursing and Health Professions. Programs currently in Global, Interprofessional and Specialized Programming, Biomedicine Programs, as well as the Salus Physician Assistant Program, will move to Drexel’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies in the College of Medicine. The Pennsylvania College of Optometry will become Drexel’s newest college.

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