Drexel University Pulling Out Of Sacramento; City Leaders Surprised By Move

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Philadelphia-based Drexel University announced on Thursday that it will be phasing out its Sacramento campus it opened in 2009.

The Sacramento campus was supposed to be the first of five locations around the country that would help the university expand. It's also credited with helping the city's economy grow and thrive.

Jessica Kriegel was valedictorian of her graduating class from Drexel in 2013 and credits her PhD from Drexel with helping her get a high-tech job at Oracle. But even back then, she had doubts the program would last.

"It's been difficult for Drexel to be fully immersed in Sacramento over the course of many years just because our main campus is in Philadelphia," she said.

Students and staff were told on Thursday the university would be closing. University President John Fry issued this statement:

"Our efforts in Sacramento no longer advance our mission as a research university."

The closure comes as a surprise to city leaders who were working to help the university expand. Drexel was part of Sacramento's economic development strategy, and it sits right in front of where a new streetcar is planned to go.

Current classes will be phased out over the next 18 months, leaving Sacramento-area students one less option in getting a valuable degree.

Currently there are 215 enrolled students at the school and about 500 alumni.