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Des Moines , IA
Drake University, located in Des Moines, Iowa, is a private, coeducational institution renowned for its exceptional academic programs and dynamic campus life. Established in 1881, the university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and pre-professional programs across six colleges, including the College of Business and Public Administration, the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the School of Education, and the Law School. Drake is widely recognized for its strong commitment to experiential learning, fostering a vibrant intellectual community, and preparing students for successful careers in their chosen fields.
With a total student population of roughly 4,800, Drake maintains a small, tight-knit community where students receive personalized attention from faculty and staff. The university nurtures a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere, encouraging students to engage in research, creative projects, internships, and service-learning activities that promote critical thinking and hands-on experience. Drake's dedication to academic excellence is reflected in its rigorous coursework, which is often supplemented by various extracurricular opportunities such as student organizations, cultural events, and Division I athletics that add depth and diversity to campus life.
In addition to its strong academic offerings, Drake University also boasts a vibrant campus with state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, cutting-edge research laboratories, and contemporary living accommodations. Located in Iowa's vibrant capital city, Drake students benefit from the university's close proximity to a thriving business community, governmental institutions, and cultural attractions. Whether it be through internships, networking opportunities, or community engagement, Drake students have the advantage of being part of a prestigious institution that emphasizes the development of their intellectual and professional growth, preparing them for successful and fulfilling lives beyond graduation.
Located in Des Moines, IA and set in an urban environment, Drake University is a private university. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 63%. The six-year graduation rate at Drake University is 74%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. Read more about what Drake University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
2,585
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$51,444
Tuition
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
74%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to find out as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the institution in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. How difficult is it to get admitted to Drake University and what are the admission requirements?
In 2025, the school accepted 6,304 new students.
Test Scores
5% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 18% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 13% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 43% between 1,200 and 1,399, 37% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 7% between 800 and 999. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 23, 56 between 24-29, 19 in the range between 18-23, and 2 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.69. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Drake University.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 15. Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 74%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the perfect place for you. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better idea of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Drake University in 2025 was 2,585.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 55. The school reported to have a total of 130 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 969 male and 1,520 female full-time students in 2025.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Drake University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $51,444 for all full-time domestic students. Drake University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $686.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $510.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
In 2025, room and board cost at Drake University amounted to $12,876 a year. If you only wanted a dormitory room, it cost $7,048 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $7,308.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 51,444 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,876 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 510 |
| Total Expense | $ 64,830 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial aid: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Drake University, here are some recent data you should consider.
According to the most recent data, 432 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students came to $39,526.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
1,440 students were awarded some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Drake University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 1,475. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $5,091,059, and state $4,143,430. The students of Drake University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $36,532,567, and external in the amount of $768,900.
$28,678
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
348 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. 104 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $5,091,059 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $494,954. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $31,375,421. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $689,596 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Drake University was 11:1: that means 11 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 409 faculty members. This number included 196 men and 213 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Drake University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Drake University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some information about campus life at Drake University.
Its campus spans 150 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
Students who like music can join the Drake University band or chorus. For those interested in acting, there is a drama club you can become part of. For students looking to explore media and communication, Drake University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Drake University.
Career Counselling
At Drake University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Drake University is located in Des Moines, IA.
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Drake University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Drake University is 51,444 USD a year.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Drake University is 63%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.