Drake University

Admission to Drake University is moderately selective, while its standing has drifted downward over several recent cycles. In the 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, Drake placed at 191, compared to 130 in 2020. In the 2025 application cycle, Drake admitted 63.9% of applicants. That acceptance rate was higher than 23% of peer institutions among similarly ranked private comprehensive universities, showing Drake rejects a larger share of candidates than many schools in its category. At the same time, admitted students often choose other options. Drake posted a yield rate of 9.8% in 2025, demonstrating that only a small fraction of accepted applicants actually registers for classes. This single-digit yield rate forces the university to extend admission widely across its applicant pool. For prospective students with standard academic credentials, these combined trends indicate accessible admissions, as the institution routinely admits a majority of applicants but struggles to compete against rival universities for final enrollment commitments.

Applicants to Drake University generally present solid academic preparation and above-average standardized test results. For the entering class of 2025, the middle 50% ACT composite score spanned from 24 to 29. Among students who reported SAT results, the median score was 1300, higher than 65% of peer schools in a comparison group of 30 similarly ranked private comprehensive universities. High school classroom records among enrolled students are similarly demanding. In the 2021–2022 admissions cycle, 35.0% of incoming first-year students entered with a 4.0 high school grade point average, demonstrating that top marks are common in the admitted pool. For prospective families building a balanced college list, these benchmarks indicate that competitive candidates typically combine strong standardized test scores with top-tier classroom performance throughout their secondary school education, making rigorous coursework and consistent academic dedication central to a competitive application.

Academic programs at Drake University are broadly dispersed rather than clustered within a single department. Among the 750 bachelor degrees awarded in 2025, the three largest majors—General Psychology, Legal Studies, and Health Services—accounted for only 15.3% of all undergraduate completions. This low concentration shows that undergraduate enrollment is evenly distributed across humanities, pre-professional tracks, and sciences. However, the university's highest-ranked offerings appear primarily at the graduate level rather than among its largest bachelor programs. In the 2026 U.S. News graduate rankings, Drake earned notable placements in specialized areas, including an 11th-place ranking for legal writing, alongside a 49th-place ranking for pharmacy and a 51st-place ranking for occupational therapy. On the professional outcomes side, analytical and business programs demonstrate strong early returns. According to 2023 earnings data, graduates in management sciences and quantitative methods achieved a median first-year salary of $79,236. For applicants, Drake offers balanced undergraduate choices with distinct graduate strengths in legal and health disciplines.

Drake University enrolled 4,345 total students in 2025 across its undergraduate and graduate divisions. White students constitute the clear majority of the student body, while minority and global populations form smaller communities. In the first-year undergraduate class, international students numbered 28, representing 4.5% of incoming freshmen. Asian students accounted for 24 first-year undergraduates. Across continuing undergraduate and graduate programs, Asian and international enrollments remain in modest single-digit proportions. Women represent the majority across both undergraduate classes and graduate schools. Other domestic minority populations include Hispanic and Black students, who are present in both undergraduate and graduate programs. For families considering Drake, these figures portray a predominantly domestic student body where international and Asian students form small, cohesive communities within the broader student population.

Undergraduate life at Drake University is firmly centered on traditional-age college students, whereas graduate programs engage learners at varying stages of professional life. In 2025, undergraduates aged 18 to 19 made up 44.1% of the college cohort, while students aged 20 to 21 accounted for 43.1%. This heavy concentration means daytime campus life and residential activities are dominated by young adults moving directly from high school through four years of college. In contrast, graduate enrollment reflects a mix of early-career scholars and experienced adults. Students aged 22 to 24 formed the largest graduate segment at 31%, followed by those in their late twenties and mid-career professionals. This distinction creates a residential undergraduate campus paired with career-oriented advanced programs.

International enrollment at Drake University has diverged significantly between degree levels over the past decade. Undergraduate international presence experienced a steady decline, dropping to 4.3% of undergraduates in 2025. By contrast, international enrollment in graduate divisions remained low but stable, standing at 1.8% in 2025. Among degree recipients in 2025, international students represented a small fraction across all levels, including small shares of bachelor and master recipients. At the undergraduate level, international graduates concentrated disproportionately in technical and business disciplines. For example, international students made up 9.4% of bachelor graduates in Computer and Information Sciences, as well as a smaller share in marketing, while major fields like psychology and legal studies saw virtually zero international graduates. At the master level, top programs such as educational leadership and business administration graduated no international candidates. These patterns show that international students at Drake gravitate toward specialized STEM fields rather than the university's large regional graduate programs.

Applicants considering Drake University can weigh several alternative institutions across the Midwest that offer different settings and educational formats. Located just 29.4 kilometers north, Iowa State University is a large public research institution ranked 116 in the 2027 U.S. News national university rankings. For students seeking a dedicated undergraduate arts environment, Grinnell College sits 49.1 kilometers east and ranks 16th among national liberal arts colleges. Further east at a distance of 109.3 kilometers, University of Iowa ranks 100th nationally. Another comparable private option within regional reach is Creighton University, situated 121.2 kilometers to the west in Omaha, Nebraska, and sharing the 100th position among national universities.

Campus safety records at Drake University demonstrate a steady decline in reported offenses over the past decade. The crime rate per 1,000 students dropped to 9.7 in 2025, reflecting a significant reduction from earlier years. Looking at cumulative safety records spanning 2023 through 2025, campus incidents were heavily dominated by internal disciplinary violations rather than violent crimes. Disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations accounted for the vast majority of reports, totaling 180 incidents across that three-year timeframe, while drug violations resulted in 33 referrals. Property and interpersonal crimes occurred at far lower frequencies during the same period, with modest numbers of thefts, motor vehicle thefts, and stalking cases recorded on campus. Families reviewing Drake's safety profile can see that serious offenses remain relatively rare, with campus law enforcement and student affairs primarily handling routine behavioral and substance-related infractions.