Drake University
#2 Best Communications Colleges in Iowa- Graduation Rate
- 76% B+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $71,901 A
- Top 7% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $29,127 F
- 70% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 64% B
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.1 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Communications Colleges in Iowa.
Every $1 spent returns $16.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,761,540.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 76% more than the national college median.
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A 76% graduation rate — 32% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $16.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Drake University Matters
Drake University is a private doctoral / professional university in Des Moines, IA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 7% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 2,543
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Communications, Biology & Biomedical, Health Professions
Why students choose Drake University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 64% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1110–1350. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $29,127 a year after grants and scholarships — 70% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $71,901 ten years after enrolling — 76% above the typical college, against $23,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 37% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.82 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Drake University has an impressive 10-year earnings average of $71,901 for graduates. This figure highlights the potential return on investment for students who choose to attend this private nonprofit institution. With an enrollment of 2,543 students and a 64% acceptance rate, Drake maintains a welcoming environment for prospective students.
Data on economic mobility is crucial for understanding long-term success. While specific mobility rates are not available, the graduation rate stands at 76%. This indicates that most students complete their degrees, which is a vital factor in achieving better job opportunities and higher salaries post-graduation. Graduates can expect to earn a solid income, contributing to their financial stability.
Drake University has a net price of $29,127, with a median student debt of $23,000. This balance suggests that while the cost of attendance is significant, the debt levels remain manageable compared to potential earnings. Students who thrive here often pursue majors in Business & Marketing, Education, and Health Professions, aligning their career goals with strong job prospects.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Drake University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Drake University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Des Moines, Iowa, Drake University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 64% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,292. The graduation rate is roughly 76%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 64%
- Retention Rate
- 84%
- SAT Average
- 1292
- ACT Midpoint
- 28
- SAT Range
- 1110–1350
- ACT Range
- 24–29
- Full-Time Faculty
- 72%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,431
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.51
- First-Gen Students
- 15%
- Applicants
- 8,621
- Admitted
- 5,796
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Drake University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Drake University is $52,130, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $29,127. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $25,824 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $52,130
- Out-of-State
- $52,130
- Avg Net Price
- $29,127
- Median Debt
- $23,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 22%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 44%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $25,824
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $23,275
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $25,171
- Family Income $110K+
- $33,126
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Drake University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Drake University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Drake University earn a median of $71,901, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $58,233
- 8 Years
- $68,149
- 10 Years
- $71,901
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.32x
- Earning > $25K
- 79%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (543)
- 69%
- 100% (543)
- 69%
- 100% (543)
- 69%
- 100% (543)
- 69%
How Drake Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Drake University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Drake University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $29,127/year ($116,508 total). Graduates earn $71,901 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,878,048 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,761,540 (16.1× your investment). The median debt is $23,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 76% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $116,508
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,878,048
- Net Return
- $1,761,540
- ROI Multiple
- 16.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $29,127
- Median Debt
- $23,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 76%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Drake University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Drake University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.75%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.7% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 47.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $109,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.75%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 47.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $148,908
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-28,880,694
Top Programs
The fields Drake University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 22% $93,833 early-career
- Communications 10% $49,750 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 8% $36,562 early-career
- Health Professions 8% $32,002 early-career
- Social Sciences 8% $40,390 early-career
- Education 6% $53,273 early-career
- Psychology 5% $39,121 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5% $47,420 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Drake University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Drake University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Des Moines, Iowa, Drake University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 64% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,292. The graduation rate is roughly 76%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Drake University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Drake University is $52,130, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $29,127. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $25,824 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,000 in federal student loans.
Is Drake University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Drake University earn a median of $71,901, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Drake University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Drake University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.75%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.7% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 47.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $109,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Drake University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Drake University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Drake University.
- St. John Fisher UniversityRochester, NY · Close peer74% grad $66,944 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Salve Regina UniversityNewport, RI · Close peer76% grad $72,975 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Augustana CollegeRock Island, IL · Close peer76% grad $62,971 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- California Lutheran UniversityThousand Oaks, CA · Close peer72% grad $68,712 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Wheaton College (Massachusetts)Norton, MA · Close peer74% grad $67,725 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Hobart William Smith CollegesGeneva, NY · Close peer75% grad $68,831 earn 64% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Drake University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Drake University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note