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Drake University

Des Moines, IA

Drake University at a glance

Drake University is a private university in Des Moines, Iowa with 4,345 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 64% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published tuition is $52,130 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $29,127 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 74% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 44% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $23,000 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Pharmacy, professional-degree ($140,314) and Business Administration, master's ($137,890) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).

Tuition

$52,130

2024-25

Acceptance

64%

Fall 2024 applicants

Students

4,345

Fall 2024

Type

University

Setting

Urban

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition

$52,130

Out-of-State Tuition

$52,130

Avg On-Campus Living

$12,452

Avg Off-Campus Living

$10,701

Financial Aid & Outcomes

College Scorecard

What will it actually cost?

Sticker price: $64,582
Net price (after aid): $29,127

Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.

Net price by family income

$0 – $30k: $25,824 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
$30k – $48k: $23,275
$48k – $75k: $25,171
$75k – $110k: $27,408 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
$110k+: $33,126 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)

Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)

For families earning $0 – $30k, $75k – $110k, $110k+, the average net price here is above the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow federally from 1 July 2026, by up to $7,626. That part has to come from savings, income, work, or private loans.

The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.

After graduation

Median earnings (10yr): $71,901
Median debt at graduation: $23,000
Est. monthly loan payment: $244

Earnings-to-debt ratio

Strong · 3.1×

Graduates earn about 3.1× their median debt every year.

Financial access

Students on Pell Grants: 22%

Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.

Students with federal loans: 44%

Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.

Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.

How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.

FAFSA earnings check

: Not flagged

Drake University does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $68,793, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally. The Department uses the national figure for a college that mostly enrolls out-of-state students or operates in several states.

This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.

Which Iowa schools are flagged now

Student Outcomes

Graduation Rate

74%

Freshman Retention

84%

Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)

Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.

Scholarships available

Decision support · Cost & value

Quick Decision Highlights

The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.

Outcomes

Strong post-grad earnings

Median earnings 10 yrs out are above the graduate average.

This school$71.9k
National avg$48k
Source: IPEDS 2024

Strong completion rate

74% above avg

Strong year-1 retention

84% above avg

Scholarships available

Aid signal

Affordability snapshot

Tuition

$52.1k

Net price

$29.1k

Pell

22%

Median debt

$23k

below avg

Earnings (10y)

$71.9k

above avg

“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.

Admissions

Acceptance rate

64%

SAT range

1110 - 1350

ACT range

24 - 29

Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)

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Location

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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school

Institution does not report this

Des Moines, IA 50311

Academics

Studying online: a substantial share study entirely online

In Fall 2023, 410 of Drake University's 4,504 students (9%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 1,096 (24%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.

Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.

U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023

Fields of study

Drake University reported conferring credentials in 60 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.

Campus & Student Life

Area Safety Rating

Decision support

Similar schools

Worth a closer look if Drake University caught your interest.

Explore more

Graduate earnings by program

What Drake University graduates earn, by program

Drake University's professional-degree graduates in Law earned a median $87,375 four years after graduating, 19% below the $107,773 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $72,226; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $83,526 in federal loans at this college (about $950 a month on a 10-year plan).

36 programs at Drake University have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.

Median earnings four years after graduating and median federal debt, by program and credential, for Drake University (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
ProgramMedian earnings, 4 yrs afterNational medianFederal debt borrowed at this college (median)Payment
Law, Professional degree$87,375$107,773, −19%$83,526$950/mo
Business Administration, Master's$137,890$103,485, +33%——
Pharmacy, Professional degree$140,314$138,348, about the same——
Educational Administration, Master's$68,233$71,685, −5%$23,522$268/mo
Public Relations and Advertising, Bachelor's$63,302$63,560, about the same$21,500$228/mo
Marketing, Bachelor's$71,246$69,303, +3%$19,000$201/mo
Management Science, Bachelor's$97,132$86,176, +13%$23,979$254/mo
Psychology, Bachelor's$47,706$50,706, −6%$20,248$215/mo
Curriculum and Instruction, Master's$62,724$63,399, about the same——
Rehabilitation and Therapy, Professional degree$57,322$81,641, −30%$196,378$2,234/mo
Teacher Education (by grade level), Master's$56,615$59,916, −6%$30,966$352/mo
Public Administration, Master's$83,764$81,408, +3%$20,075$228/mo

What the job pays locally

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.

Show 24 more programs
Median earnings four years after graduating and median federal debt, by program and credential, for Drake University (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
ProgramMedian earnings, 4 yrs afterNational medianFederal debt borrowed at this college (median)Payment
Communication, Master's—$71,953——
Journalism, Bachelor's$62,969$56,278, +12%——
Computer and Information Sciences, Bachelor's$90,639$92,374, about the same$19,000$201/mo
Student Counseling, Master's$59,658$60,111, about the same——
Finance, Bachelor's$88,637$83,343, +6%$25,000$265/mo
Accounting, Bachelor's$87,582$76,194, +15%$20,000$212/mo
Teacher Education (by grade level), Bachelor's$49,289$47,382, +4%$27,000$286/mo
Natural Resources and Conservation, Bachelor's—$55,012$19,500$207/mo
Biochemistry, Bachelor's$67,547$65,466, +3%$20,375$216/mo
Political Science, Bachelor's$67,257$63,293, +6%$20,500$217/mo
Music, Bachelor's$42,233$42,892, about the same——
International Relations and National Security Studies, Bachelor's$49,764$66,596, −25%——
History, Bachelor's$42,256$50,680, −17%——
Writing and Rhetoric, Bachelor's$50,591$48,471, +4%——
Design and Applied Arts, Bachelor's$58,834$51,490, +14%——
Business Administration, Bachelor's$73,523$68,257, +8%$17,053$181/mo
Theatre, Bachelor's$54,950$39,775, +38%——
Biology, Bachelor's—$57,214$25,000$265/mo
Economics, Bachelor's$88,638$82,686, +7%——
Accounting, Master's$91,269$95,833, −5%——
English, Bachelor's$57,563$48,590, +18%——
Pharmacy, Bachelor's$75,867$116,539, −35%$23,000$244/mo
Legal Professions and Studies, Other, Bachelor's$52,326$57,149, −8%$23,125$245/mo
Management Information Systems, Bachelor's$87,551$83,290, +5%——

Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026.

Frequently asked questions

About Drake University

Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.

Where is Drake University located?
Drake University is located in Des Moines, IA, in the United States.
What type of institution is Drake University?
Drake University is a private university based in IA. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
What is the acceptance rate at Drake University?
The most recently reported acceptance rate at Drake University is approximately 64% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
What is the tuition at Drake University?
Drake University's published in-state tuition is approximately $52,130 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
How many students attend Drake University?
Drake University reports total enrollment of approximately 4,345 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
How much does Drake University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Drake University is approximately $29,127 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $25,824 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $33,126. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
What is the graduation rate at Drake University?
Drake University reports a graduation rate of approximately 74% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
How much student debt do graduates of Drake University have?
Students who borrowed at Drake University left with a median of approximately $23,000 in federal loans, and about 44% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
How much do graduates of Drake University earn?
Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $71,901 for students who received federal financial aid at Drake University. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
How should I verify final details about Drake University?
CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with Drake University.
How much do Law graduates from Drake University earn?
Drake University's professional-degree graduates in Law earned a median $87,375 four years after graduating, 19% below the $107,773 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $72,226; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $83,526 in federal loans at this college (about $950 a month on a 10-year plan). For context, lawyers in Iowa are paid a median $123,550 a year across all experience levels (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), a figure for everyone in the job, not only recent graduates.
How much do Business Administration graduates from Drake University earn?
Drake University's master's graduates in Business Administration earned a median $137,890 four years after graduating, 33% above the $103,485 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $91,098; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth.
Which programs at Drake University have the highest graduate earnings?
Among the 18 programs at Drake University with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Pharmacy, professional-degree ($140,314); Business Administration, master's ($137,890); and Management Science, bachelor's ($97,132) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
Does Drake University get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, Drake University's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $68,793, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.

Fields this college awarded credentials in

The 14 largest of 60 fields Drake University reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.

Fields Drake University reported conferring credentials in during 2024-25, with the number awarded and the highest credential level.
FieldAwardedLevel
Educational Administration and Supervision122Graduate
Law115Graduate
Business Administration, Management and Operations107Graduate (75 graduate · 24 bachelor's · 8 associate)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration66Graduate
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods63Graduate (25 graduate · 38 bachelor's)
Data Analytics61Graduate (24 graduate · 37 bachelor's)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions54Graduate (41 graduate · 13 bachelor's)
Non-Professional Legal Studies48Bachelor's
Computer and Information Sciences, General47Bachelor's
Psychology, General46Bachelor's
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication46Bachelor's
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods42Bachelor's
Marketing39Bachelor's
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General37Bachelor's

Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.

Data sources & methodology

Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.

Facts on this profile of Drake University are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.

Sources used across this page

Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.

Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.

Suggested citation

CampusPin. (2024). Drake University, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/drake-university

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