Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa · Private · 2,543 undergraduates · drake.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
64%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1110 to 1350
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$73,890Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Drake University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
64% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$73,890
a year in 2027-28, from a $73,890 sticker price
What to do with your 1230
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (1230).
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
Source: First-Year Admission | Undergraduate Application | Drake University · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Dec1Early Action · December 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Jan15Priority deadline · January 15, 2027Apply by this date for the best chance at admission and scholarships.
- Mar1Regular Decision · March 1, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
64%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 1110 to 1350
Reading and Writing 580 to 680
Math 530 to 670
ACT composite 24 to 29
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$73,890
a year
- Tuition$55,740
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$28,458
- $30,001 to $48,000$25,119
- $48,001 to $75,000$25,416
- $75,001 to $110,000$28,365
- Over $110,000$32,318
Financial aidEstimate
79%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
100%
of freshmen receive grants
$35,498
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Drake-Sponsored National Merit Scholarship
$1,500 a year
National Merit
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC. To keep it: stay a full-time student, and stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
41 of 41
Earn credit with a score of 3
None
You need a 4 or 5 for credit here.
A 3-credit course is worth
about $5,570Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ART 013 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ART 014 |
| African American Studies | 4 | 3 | WLC 151 |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | ART 075 |
| Biology | 4 | 8 | BIO 001, 001L, BIO Elective |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 6 | MATH 050, MATH 070 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | MATH 050, MATH 070 |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 4 | 6 | MATH 050, MATH 070 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 8 | CHEM 001, CHEM 002, CHEM 003, CHEM 004 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | CHIN 001, CHIN 002 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 065 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 3 | CS 065 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 | CS 010 |
| Drawing | 4 | 3 | ART Elective |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 6 | ENG Elective |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 6 | ENG Elective |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 3 | ENSS 035 |
| European History | 4 | 6 | HIST Elective |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | FREN 001, FREN 002 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | GERM 001, GERM 002 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | SCSG Elective |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | General Elective |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | JAPN 001, JAPN 002 |
| Latin | 4 | 6 | General Elective |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON 010 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON 002 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 4 | Evaluated on an individual basis |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PHY 011 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | PHY 012 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | PHY 002 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PHY 001 |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | 5 | MATH 020, MATH Elective |
| Psychology | 4 | 4 | PSY 001 |
| Research | 4 | 3 | General Elective |
| Seminar | 4 | 3 | General Elective |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | SPAN 001, SPAN 002 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 9 | SPAN 001, SPAN 002, SPAN 003 |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | STAT 071 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 001 |
| United States History | 4 | 6 | HIST 075, HIST 076 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 6 | HIST 011, HIST 012 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
71%
Come back for a second year
84%
Typical earnings
$78,855
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Drake University$97,309
- All colleges$80,105
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 15 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Drake University. The Drake University logo is a trademark of the college.