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Drake University

Drake University is a private campus in Des Moines proper — federal locale codes class it as urban.

What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$27,372

family income
under $30k

$25,335

$30–48k

$26,358

$48–75k

$32,215

$75–110k

$32,993

over $110k

These figures don't always rise with income — aid formulas can make a higher bracket cheaper.

Average net price

$29,1272023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Drake University rose from $22,727 (2008) to $29,127 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$22,727
2009	$22,878
2010	$23,314
2011	$25,738
2012	$26,045
2013	$26,387
2014	$27,303
2015	$27,347
2016	$27,578
2017	$29,046
2018	$29,432
2019	$29,903
2020	$29,098
2021	$30,176
2022	$30,042
2023	$29,127

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$64,8352024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Drake University rose from $36,852 (2009) to $64,835 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$36,852
2010	$37,882
2011	$39,550
2012	$41,252
2013	$42,477
2014	$44,261
2015	$46,087
2016	$47,759
2017	$49,402
2018	$53,507
2019	$56,051
2020	$57,643
2021	$59,043
2022	$60,642
2023	$62,407
2024	$64,835

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$17,090
2001	$17,790
2002	$18,390
2003	$19,420
2004	$20,550
2005	$21,500
2006	$22,682
2007	$23,692
2008	$24,892
2013	$30,889
2014	$32,246
2015	$33,696
2016	$35,206
2017	$39,062
2018	$41,396
2019	$42,840
2020	$44,376
2021	$45,912
2022	$47,912
2023	$49,944

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Reported tuition is $52,130 before grants and other attendance costs. At Drake University, aid and other costs change the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 2,543 undergrads, Drake University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

74% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Drake University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

74%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Drake University has wandered from Fall 1991 to Fall 2018 entering cohorts — up to 81.2% at the peak — but ends near where it began, at 74%.

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	68.3%
1992 cohort	66.3%
1993 cohort	64.9%
1994 cohort	64.4%
1995 cohort	68.3%
1996 cohort	73%
1997 cohort	70%
1998 cohort	69.3%
1999 cohort	66.7%
2000 cohort	77.1%
2001 cohort	73.4%
2002 cohort	71%
2003 cohort	75.8%
2004 cohort	75.2%
2005 cohort	77.6%
2006 cohort	74.5%
2007 cohort	72.7%
2008 cohort	77.8%
2009 cohort	75.3%
2010 cohort	78.2%
2011 cohort	79.1%
2012 cohort	78.4%
2013 cohort	81.2%
2014 cohort	77.8%
2015 cohort	78.1%
2016 cohort	76.4%
2017 cohort	77.3%
2018 cohort	74%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$17,125	$3,595
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$17,125	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$17,125	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$16,796	$3,407
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$15,383	$3,750
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$14,625	$6,125
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$13,768	$9,625
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$14,500	$8,712
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$15,125	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$15,125	$3,938
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$15,250	$4,580
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$17,012	$7,015
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$17,125	$9,000
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$19,125	$7,000
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$22,125	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$24,089	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$25,000	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$25,000	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$26,000	$7,544
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$26,442	$17,083
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$23,823	$12,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$23,375	$10,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$22,625	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$23,000	$12,000

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$58,233

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$68,149

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$71,901

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Drake University admitted 6,304 of 9,873 applicants in Fall 2024. The 63.9% rate describes that application pool.

63.9%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $49,944 tuition · 2023–24 2,543 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1110–13501600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Drake University received 9,873 applications and admitted 6,304 (63.9%), with 618 enrolling.

Drake University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Drake University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 580–680 and Math was 530–670 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1110–1350 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	580	630	680
SAT Math	530	670	670
ACT Composite	24	27	29

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

63.8%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Read Drake University's change from 87.5% to 63.8% as a share of applications, not an explanation of admissions decisions. This describes Fall 2001 to Fall 2024.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	87.5%
Fall 2002	86.3%
Fall 2003	83.4%
Fall 2004	83.5%
Fall 2005	80.8%
Fall 2006	80.4%
Fall 2007	78.3%
Fall 2008	69.3%
Fall 2009	74.1%
Fall 2010	65%
Fall 2011	63.2%
Fall 2012	65.9%
Fall 2013	66%
Fall 2014	69.3%
Fall 2015	66.9%
Fall 2016	69%
Fall 2017	68.8%
Fall 2018	67.7%
Fall 2019	67.6%
Fall 2020	67.9%
Fall 2021	69.1%
Fall 2022	67.2%
Fall 2023	64.1%
Fall 2024	63.8%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1110–1350Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1030	1280
Fall 2002	1000	1260
Fall 2003	1080	1300
Fall 2004	1090	1310
Fall 2005	1020	1280
Fall 2006	1060	1320
Fall 2007	1070	1290
Fall 2008	1070	1300
Fall 2009	1040	1300
Fall 2010	1080	1320
Fall 2011	1110	1330
Fall 2012	1060	1300
Fall 2013	1070	1320
Fall 2014	1060	1310
Fall 2015	1070	1360
Fall 2016	1050	1340
Fall 2017	1100	1350
Fall 2018	1140	1360
Fall 2019	1100	1370
Fall 2020	1110	1340
Fall 2021	1190	1410
Fall 2022	1110	1340
Fall 2023	1190	1390
Fall 2024	1110	1350

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

24–29Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	23	28
Fall 2002	22	28
Fall 2003	23	28
Fall 2004	24	29
Fall 2005	23	28
Fall 2006	23	28
Fall 2007	24	29
Fall 2008	24	29
Fall 2009	24	29
Fall 2010	24	30
Fall 2011	25	29
Fall 2012	24	29
Fall 2013	25	30
Fall 2014	25	30
Fall 2015	24	30
Fall 2016	25	30
Fall 2017	24	30
Fall 2018	24	30
Fall 2019	24	31
Fall 2020	23	30
Fall 2021	25	31
Fall 2022	25	30
Fall 2023	24	30
Fall 2024	24	29

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

2,543Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Drake University has wandered from Fall 2002 to Fall 2024 — up to 3,481 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at 2,543.

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	2,600
Fall 2003	2,632
Fall 2004	2,738
Fall 2005	3,015
Fall 2006	3,191
Fall 2007	3,362
Fall 2008	3,465
Fall 2009	3,481
Fall 2010	3,464
Fall 2011	3,348
Fall 2012	3,310
Fall 2013	3,310
Fall 2014	3,290
Fall 2015	3,269
Fall 2016	3,196
Fall 2017	3,038
Fall 2018	2,952
Fall 2019	2,902
Fall 2020	2,814
Fall 2021	2,857
Fall 2022	2,794
Fall 2023	2,669
Fall 2024	2,543

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

84%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Drake University has held near 84% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	83%
Fall 2003 cohort	86%
Fall 2004 cohort	85%
Fall 2005 cohort	88%
Fall 2006 cohort	86%
Fall 2007 cohort	86%
Fall 2008 cohort	89%
Fall 2009 cohort	85%
Fall 2010 cohort	88%
Fall 2011 cohort	88%
Fall 2012 cohort	88%
Fall 2013 cohort	89%
Fall 2014 cohort	88%
Fall 2015 cohort	88%
Fall 2016 cohort	87%
Fall 2017 cohort	89%
Fall 2018 cohort	84%
Fall 2019 cohort	86%
Fall 2020 cohort	84%
Fall 2021 cohort	83%
Fall 2022 cohort	84%
Fall 2023 cohort	84%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Drake University

21.7% of Drake University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes Drake University as a primarily residential campus of 2,543 undergraduates — and 84.1% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Drake University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1110–1350 — their midpoint is above the IA four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Drake University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Drake University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Drake University63.9%

Iowa median80.1%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Drake University$52,130

Iowa median$36,684

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Drake University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Drake University$71,901

Iowa median$55,396

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Drake University, Iowa and national reference values
Metric & basis	Drake University	Iowa median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	63.9%	80.1%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$52,130	$36,684	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$71,901	$55,396	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Drake University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Drake University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 23 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods	$97,132
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$90,639
Economics	$88,638
Finance and Financial Management Services	$88,637
Accounting and Related Services	$87,582
Management Information Systems and Services	$87,551
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration	$75,867
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$73,523
Marketing	$71,246
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology	$67,547
Political Science and Government	$67,257
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication	$63,302
Journalism	$62,969
Design and Applied Arts	$58,834
English Language and Literature, General	$57,563
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	$54,950
Legal Professions and Studies, Other	$52,326
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	$50,591
International Relations and National Security Studies	$49,764
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$49,289
Psychology, General	$47,706
History	$42,256
Music	$42,233

These 23 fields listed for Drake University measure earnings after completion. The $71,901 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 29 additional Drake University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Drake University report?

Drake University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1110–1350 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Drake University's acceptance rate?

63.9% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 6,304 admitted from 9,873 applicants.

How much does Drake University cost?

At Drake University, tuition is $52,130. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Drake University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $71,901. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Iowa

Dordt University — 68.5% admitted
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary — 67.5% admitted
Graceland University-Lamoni — 80.8% admitted
Cornell College — 79.9% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.