Drake University
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit · offers Graduate degrees
64%Acceptance rate
$29,127Average net price / year
74%Graduation rate
$71,901Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$23,000Median debt at graduation
2,543Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $52,130
- Total cost of attendance
- $64,835
- Room & board
- $12,452
- Books & supplies
- $510
- Average net price
- $29,127
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $25,824
- $30–48k
- $23,275
- $48–75k
- $25,171
- $75–110k
- $27,408
- $110k+
- $33,126
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 63.9%
- Average SAT
- 1292
- SAT reading (25–75%)
- 580–680
- SAT math (25–75%)
- 530–670
- ACT composite (25–75%)
- 24–29
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 74%
- First-year retention
- 84%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $58,233
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $71,901
- Median debt (graduates)
- $23,000
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 22%
- Students with federal loans
- 44%
Programs: what graduates earn
37 of 79 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 87 | $91,098 | — |
| Public Administration | 38 | $67,297 | $20,075 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 64 | $64,311 | $23,522 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 46 | $58,730 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 40 | $56,361 | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 34 | $54,800 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 36 | $51,327 | $30,966 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 5 | $70,579 | — |
First professional degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 105 | $72,226 | $83,526 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 48 | $68,869 | $196,378 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 66 | $126,268 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 2,543
- Graduate students
- 2,097
- Part-time
- 2%
- Women / men
- 61% / 39%
- White
- 68%
- Hispanic
- 9%
- Black
- 8%
- Asian
- 5%
- International
- 4%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 11:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $93,879 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 72%
- Accreditor
- Higher Learning Commission
- Website
- www.drake.edu
- Also known as
- Drake
Most popular fields
- Natural Resources & Conservation – 3% of degrees
- Communication & Journalism – 10% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 5% of degrees
- Education – 6% of degrees
- Legal Professions – 5% of degrees
- English – 4% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Drake University?
63.9% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1292 on the SAT.
How much does Drake University cost?
The average net price after grants is $29,127 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $52,130 and the full cost of attendance is $64,835.
How much do Drake University graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $71,901 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
74% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in Des Moines
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand View University Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit · 1,486 students |
$21,774 | 99% | 54% | $52,824 |
| Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit · 867 students |
$26,924 | 100% | 66% | $62,234 |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines Des Moines, IA · Private for-profit · 74 students |
$12,673 | — | 81% | $25,803 |
| UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic Technology Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit · 16 students |
— | — | — | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.