U.S. Department of Education Provides Final Approval of Drexel and Salus Merger

As of July 3, 2025, Drexel University’s merger with Salus University is complete. The institutions received final approval of the merger from the U.S. Department of Education, marking the final step in a two-year integration process and a historic moment for two of Philadelphia’s leading institutions of higher education.

“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.”

With the Department of Education’s approval, all student financial aid and academic records have been transferred to Drexel’s systems, which completes the formal merger of the two universities, a process that began in April 2023.

“This is an exciting moment in the history of our esteemed institutions,” said Rebecca C. Delia and former Salus University board chair and current Drexel trustee. “With the finalization of this merger we will be embarking on a new journey to expand the health sciences research and educational opportunities and clinical services available throughout our region. I am grateful for the visionary leadership and diligent efforts of our colleagues at Drexel through the entire process of this merger and look forward to continuing our efforts to amplify the impact of our now unified institution.”

The prospect of a merger emerged in the spring of 2023, as the two universities sought to deepen synergies in interprofessional health sciences education and provide Salus with access to collaboration with research-intensive faculty within an R1 institution. Amid a shifting higher education landscape, a path toward was designed for a mutually beneficial integration—one that would strengthen Drexel’s offerings in high-demand health science professions while supporting growth and sustainability for both institutions.

The institutions formalized their agreement with a signing ceremony on June 13, 2023, after their boards of trustees approved a path toward a merger, setting into motion a process of regulatory and judicial approvals that culminated in today’s  Department of Education’s recognition of the merger.

Following approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Higher Education and Middle States Commission on Higher Education, in June 2024, Salus’ non-academic operational units  became part of Drexel’s structure and the University welcomed Salus students, faculty members and professional staff, and almost 14,000 alumni, to the Drexel family with a ceremonial flag raising on Salus’ Elkins Park Campus.

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.

“The U.S. Department of Education’s approval marks the final milestone in our integration implementation process and reinforces Drexel’s commitment to delivering interprofessional, research-informed health education,” said Elisabeth Van Bockstaele, PhD, chief strategy officer, senior vice provost for Graduate Studies, and dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies. “By uniting the strengths of both institutions, we are expanding opportunities for students, enhancing academic excellence, and strengthening our collective impact in the health sciences.”

Van Bockstaele led the implementation of the integration alongside Beth Moy, former Salus chief of staff, who will now serve as associate vice provost for Elkins Park Operations and Strategy.

Salus University has a storied history and has been a leader in educating health science professionals in the region since its founding as the Pennsylvania State College of Optometry — the nation’s first school of optometry — in 1919. The school went on to become a pioneer in offering master’s degrees and certificate programs designed for the education and rehabilitation for the visually impaired; leading research and training on the latest technologies; offering exceptional education and training for a range of health science professions; and providing important clinical care in the Philadelphia and Montgomery County regions. Its merger will enable Drexel and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry to carry this legacy forward for future generations.