Admit rate has ranged 64%–69% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Drake University is a mid-sized private university in Des Moines, Iowa, that punches above its weight with strong professional programs in business, pharmacy, and journalism, plus a surprisingly robust Division I athletics scene. Known for its friendly Midwestern vibe and high graduation rates (77%), Drake offers a personalized education where nearly two-thirds of applicants get in, but the ambitious thrive with Des Moines' internships at their doorstep.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
2,543
In-state tuition
$52,130
Out-of-state tuition
$52,130
Type
Private
Location
Des Moines, IA
Acceptance Rate
63.9%
Graduation Rate
77%
Notable Programs
Business, Pharmacy, Journalism, Actuarial Science
Student-Faculty Ratio
10:1
Avg. Need-Based Aid Award
$33,539
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$71,901
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.5×
Median debt at graduation
$23,000
Graduation rate
74%
First-year retention
84%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
84%
Pell (lower-income) share
33%
First-generation share
15%
Endowment / student
$120,412
Financial health
2.8 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$78,971
Mathematics$65,238
Management Information Systems and Services$64,990
Computer and Information Sciences, General$62,409
Accounting and Related Services$59,485
Finance and Financial Management Services
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
2
Per 1,000 students
0.79
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
83
Summer high
84°F
Winter low
17°F
Annual rain
34.6"
Annual snow
24.8"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
150
Scholarly works
5,822
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.7%
Bottom → top quintile
48%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Drake University?
Drake University's acceptance rate is approximately 64% (Des Moines, IA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Drake University?
Admitted students at Drake University typically score 1110–1350 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Drake University cost?
At Drake University, the average net price (after aid) is about $29,127 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Drake University?
Drake University enrolls approximately 2,543 undergraduate students.
Where is Drake University located?
Drake University is located in Des Moines, IA.
Admissions
Drake's admissions process is moderately selective, with a 63.9% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. (6,304 admitted from 9,873 applicants in a recent cycle). The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1120–1370 on the SAT or 24–31 on the ACT, with median scores at 1260 (SAT) and 27 (ACT). Notably, Drake is Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight.—applicants aren't required to submit SAT/ACT scores, though those who do benefit from superscoring. The university reviews applications on a rolling basis, offering flexibility in deadlines.
Drake offers over 150 majors and programs, with standout strengths in , , , and (one of only a few U.S. programs with a dedicated actuarial science major). The Princeton Review highlights its theater program, while students praise the accessibility of professors—a hallmark of Drake's emphasis on undergraduate teaching. The most popular majors cluster in the social sciences (7%), visual/performing arts (7%), and biological/biomedical sciences (5%). Small class sizes are the norm, with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$57,705
International Business$55,964
Marketing$50,439
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
business
pharmacy
journalism
actuarial science
Signature programs: Drake Law School’s constitutional law center is nationally recognized, and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication operates professional media outlets like the Times-Delphic newspaper.
Life at Drake balances Big Ten energy (it’s a Division I school with spirited basketball rivalries) and a tight-knit campus where 62% of students live on campus. Over 150 student clubs range from a thriving Greek life (30% participation) to niche groups like the "Drake Relays" organizing committee for its famed track event. Des Moines provides internships and cultural perks (the city’s sculpture park is a block away), but students say the campus itself is "absolutely beautiful" with smoke-free, walkable quads.
Athletics: The Bulldogs compete in the Missouri Valley Conference, with basketball games at the Knapp Center drawing loyal crowds.
Traditions: Homecoming’s "Paint the Town" event and the Drake Relays—a premier track meet since 1910—anchor the calendar.
Drake’s 77% graduation rate (well above the national average) reflects its supportive academic culture. Within six months of graduation, 95.2% of 2024 graduates were employed or in grad school. Alumni earn a median salary of $36,427 one year post-graduation, with strong placement in Des Moines’ corporate and legal sectors (the city hosts major insurers like Principal and Wells Fargo). The Wall Street Journal ranked Drake as Iowa’s top private university for outcomes three years running, crediting its career-focused curriculum.
Drake’s sticker price is steep ($52,988/year for tuition), but guaranteed scholarships slash that cost: 70% of first-years receive Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements. (average award: $33,539), and all admitted students get merit scholarships covering 45–66% of tuition, reducing net tuition to $17,988–$25,988. The university meets 85% of demonstrated need on average. For context, 59% of students receive financial aid, with average packages totaling $40,774—making Drake more affordable than its private peers.
Drake is the rare school that combines big-city opportunities (Des Moines’ Fortune 500 scene) with small-college camaraderie. Its journalism students cover presidential caucuses firsthand, pharmacy majors train in a state-of-the-art facility, and everyone benefits from a career services team that leverages local corporate ties. The "Drake vibe" is upbeat and engaged—think debate teams hosting national events, or the entire campus shutting down for Relays. For students seeking a personalized education with professional polish, it’s a hidden gem.
Drake University logo · sourceMaps & Directions | Drake University · sourceDrake University - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · sourceGetting to Know Drake University (IA) - Educated Quest · source
