Drake University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Des Moines, Iowa. It enrolls 2,543 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.
These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Selective), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes78
Value41
Affordability20
Selectivity74
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Drake University admits 63.9% of applicants, which makes it moderately selective, and realistic if you meet the academic profile.
Acceptance Rate
63.9%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1110 – 1350
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
24 – 29
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Drake University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
3.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $29,127 a year on average, it sits in line with what private nonprofit colleges charge nationally. Plan for the gap between that and what you can pay without borrowing. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$52,130
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,452
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,701
Books & Supplies
$510
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,150
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,303
Total Cost of Attendance
$64,835
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$25,824
$30,001 – $48,000
$23,275
$48,001 – $75,000
$25,171
$75,001 – $110,000
$27,408
Over $110,000
$33,126
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$11,00025%percentile
$23,000Medianpercentile
$30,50075%percentile
$38,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,000
↓ $4,000
No Pell $19,500
↓ $3,500
Dependent students $19,425
↓ $3,575
Independent students $24,000
↑ $1,000
Female students $19,500
↓ $3,500
Male students $18,750
↓ $4,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($23,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
43% of students who start here finish within six years, and 84% come back after first year. Fewer than half finish in six years. Ask what support exists for students who fall behind. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.
6-Year Graduation Rate
43%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
84%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $71,901 a year, above the national median. That is a healthy return for most cost levels. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$71,901
Earning > $25K
89%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$66,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$72,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$60,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$65,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$71,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $5,900, about 8% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
7.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Who you would actually be sitting next to: 2,543 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,543
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
15%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 68.2%1,733
Hispanic 9.5%241
Black 7.8%198
Other 5.6%141
Asian 4.6%118
International 4.2%107
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Drake University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Drake University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
75 distinct programs across
21 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
There are 10 students for every instructor here: small classes, and staff who are likely to know your name.
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$478M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$91,405
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
302 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
120
40%
$107,782
Associate Professors
99
33%
$89,051
Assistant Professors
57
19%
$76,350
Instructors
26
9%
$57,791
Pros & Cons of Drake University
No college is right for everyone. Here is where Drake University is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Drake University is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Drake University
The questions families ask most about Drake University, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.
Is Drake University hard to get into?
Admissions at Drake University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 63.9%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Drake University?
63.9% of applicants are admitted. Most applicants who meet the basic requirements are admitted. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What SAT score do you need for Drake University?
Aim for 1350 or better. Half of admitted students scored between 1110 and 1350 (Reading plus Math), so anything above the top of that range makes you competitive and anything below the bottom means the rest of your application has to carry more weight. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What ACT score do you need for Drake University?
Aim for 29 or better. Half of admitted students scored between 24 and 29 on the composite, so the upper half of that band is where you want to land. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Drake University cost?
Budget around $29,127 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Drake University worth it?
On the numbers, yes: moderate return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $71,901 a year against a net price of $29,127, about 2.5 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Drake University known for?
Mostly Law, Business Administration, Pharmacy. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do Drake University graduates earn?
About $71,901 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Drake University accredited?
Yes. Drake University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Drake University?
2,543 students. Big enough for a wide course catalogue without feeling anonymous. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at Drake University?
43% finish within six years. That means most students do not finish in six years. Ask the school directly what support exists for students who fall behind. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Drake University a public or private college?
It is Private Nonprofit. Private nonprofit, so the sticker price is higher but institutional aid is often larger too.
Where is Drake University located?
Drake University is located in Des Moines, Iowa.
What programs does Drake University offer?
75 different programs, most commonly Law, Business Administration, Pharmacy. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Drake University?
10 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Related Colleges in Iowa
Other colleges in Iowa share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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