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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.
Drake University is a private university located in Des Moines, IA and set in an urban environment. This institution follows 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. Learn 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
If you find out as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly increase. Here are the most important data you need to know about admission policy and requirements at Drake University.
In 2025, the school accepted 6,304 new students.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 5% and ACT scores 18%. 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% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of new 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. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission.
Deadlines
The application deadline for Drake University is January 15. The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 74%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the right choice for you. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school enrolled 2,585 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 55% for that year. The school admitted a total of 130 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 969 male and 1,520 female full-time students in 2025.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Drake University.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Drake University? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition in 2025 was $51,444 for 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 were required to pay additional fees in the amount of $686.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. Most students have to set aside about $510 for books and supplies during their time at Drake University.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Drake University was $12,876 in 2025. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 stood at $7,048 for one 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
Getting some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for completing your studies. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Drake University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 432 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $39,526 in financial help.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
1,440 students secured some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Drake University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 1,475. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $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 aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 348 students overall (including freshmen) at Drake University 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
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Majors
Faculty
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2025, this ratio at Drake University was 11:1. That means that there were 11 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 409 teachers at this school. This number included 196 male and 213 female faculty members. 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
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some information about campus life at Drake University.
Its campus is 150 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Drake University band or chorus. If the world of acting appeals to you, there is a drama club you can join. Interested in 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. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent 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.
