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Drake University

Private

Des Moines, IA

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Located in Des Moines, IA, Drake University is a private small school with roughly 2,543 undergraduates. It's not highly selective, admitting a majority of applicants, admitting about 64% of applicants. Its highest-earning reported major is Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services), where graduates report median earnings of $97,132/year four years out. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.

Admissions

Admit rate64%
SAT range1110–1350
ACT range24–29
Undergrads2,543
Yield (admits who enroll)13%
Next deadlineNot reported

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$64,835
4-year grad rate76%
Median earnings, 10yr out$71,901

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against Drake University's numbers?

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How Drake University weighs your application

From Drake University's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankNot considered
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayNot considered
RecommendationsConsidered
Nonacademic factors
InterviewConsidered
Extracurricular activitiesConsidered
Talent/abilityConsidered
Character/personal qualitiesConsidered
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Not considered
Geographical residenceNot considered
State residencyNot considered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Considered
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans44%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out84%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$67,547/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$97,132/yr
Finance and Financial Management Services$88,637/yr
Accounting and Related Services$87,582/yr
Management Information Systems and Services$87,551/yr
Business Administration, Management and Operations$73,523/yr
Marketing$71,246/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$63,302/yr
Journalism$62,969/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer and Information Sciences, General$90,639/yr
Education
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$49,289/yr
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General$57,563/yr
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$50,591/yr
Health Professions and Related Programs
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration$75,867/yr
History
History$42,256/yr
Legal Professions and Studies
Legal Professions and Studies, Other$52,326/yr
Psychology
Psychology, General$47,706/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$88,638/yr
Political Science and Government$67,257/yr
International Relations and National Security Studies$49,764/yr
Visual and Performing Arts
Design and Applied Arts$58,834/yr
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$54,950/yr
Music$42,233/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity1,758
Typical room charge$6,314
Typical board charge$5,256

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPARequired
Class rankNot considered
RecommendationsConsidered, not required

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Drake University look for in applicants?

Per Drake University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Drake University's acceptance rate?

Drake University in Des Moines, IA admits approximately 64% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Drake University?

Admitted students at Drake University typically score between 1110–1350 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Drake University?

Admitted students at Drake University typically score between 24–29 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Drake University cost?

Drake University's total cost of attendance is reported at $64,835 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

Does Drake University require students to live on campus?

No -- Drake University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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