Drake University

About Drake University

Drake University operates as a private university on a 150-acre campus in Des Moines. It was founded in 1881 and is named for Francis Marion Drake. The institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission; its law, pharmacy, occupational therapy, education, journalism, music, art and design, chemistry, and business offerings also have relevant specialized recognition or accreditation listed by the university. The university is organized into seven principal academic units: the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Drake Law School, John Dee Bright College, School of Education, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and Zimpleman College of Business. This structure supports a mix of liberal-arts, professional, associate, undergraduate, graduate, and professional education. Prospective students should note that admission routes, calendars, costs, and professional accreditation can differ substantially among these units. Drake's location is a defining practical feature. Des Moines is Iowa's state capital and a regional center for government, insurance, finance, health care, media, and nonprofit activity. Students can therefore pursue academic study in a campus setting while remaining close to employers and public institutions. The university also offers NCAA Division I athletics, club and intramural sports, residence halls, student organizations, and campus support services. Students comparing Drake with larger public universities should weigh its private-university pricing against its tuition guarantee, institutional scholarships, academic structure, and urban professional access.

For first-year undergraduate admission, applicants may use either Drake's application or the Common Application. The university requires a high-school transcript but does not generally require an ACT or SAT score, application essay, recommendation letter, or interview. Applicants may submit those optional materials to add context. An official final transcript is required before enrollment if an applicant initially supplies an unofficial record. The current first-year admissions page lists December 1 as the Early Action deadline, January 15 as the priority deadline, and March 1 as regular decision. Applications after March 1 are considered when space remains. Early Action provides earlier consideration for admission, scholarships, financial aid, and housing preferences. These dates appear on the current page as of August 20, 2026, but the page does not clearly label them with a specific entering cohort; applicants should confirm the dates in their application portal before relying on them. Music applicants may need an audition, while applicants to theatre BFA programs may need an audition or portfolio. Other programs can impose additional conditions. Transfer, international, graduate, law, pharmacy, and other professional applicants follow distinct processes, so first-year rules should not be generalized to them. International students should consult Drake's dedicated international admissions guidance for credential evaluation, financial documentation, and English-proficiency requirements. Graduate applications are administered at program level, with requirements and timelines varying by degree.

Drake's 2026–2027 undergraduate catalog documents bachelor's study across arts and sciences, business, education, journalism and mass communication, and health-related fields. Examples include artificial intelligence, biology, environmental science, finance, international relations, journalism and mass communication, kinesiology, and health sciences. The catalog also lists combined and accelerated pathways, but applicants should examine the curriculum and awarding institution carefully because some pathways involve partner universities. Undergraduates generally combine a major with the Drake Curriculum, the university's general-education framework. College of Arts and Sciences bachelor's degrees ordinarily require at least 120 credits, including upper-level study and completion of major and general-education requirements. Exact graduation rules vary by college and degree, especially for professionally accredited programs. At graduate level, Drake offers master's and doctoral education alongside professional degrees. The current graduate catalog includes master's programs in areas such as business administration, public administration, business analytics, counseling, education, communication, leadership, and health-related subjects. Doctoral study includes a PhD in education as well as professional doctorates in education, pharmacy, occupational therapy, and law-related study. Because graduate programs manage their own admissions processes and may use different delivery formats, applicants should verify prerequisites, residency expectations, accreditation, and tuition directly with the relevant school. The breadth of offerings makes Drake particularly relevant to students considering professional preparation or an accelerated transition from undergraduate to graduate study.

Key Highlights

• Founded in 1881 in Des Moines, Iowa
• Institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
• Organized into seven principal colleges and schools
• 150-acre campus in Iowa's state capital

Student Life & Environment

Campus life combines residential housing, student organizations, recreation, and Division I athletics. Drake reports more than 150 clubs and organizations, giving students options connected to academic interests, service, identity, leadership, performance, and recreation. Its intercollegiate teams compete in NCAA Division I, while club sports, intramurals, and fitness activities offer less formal ways to participate. Drake describes six residence halls with furnished rooms, air conditioning, wireless internet, common areas, and shared kitchens. Most first-year students live in double rooms, with resident assistants based on each floor. As students progress, possible arrangements expand to suites, university-owned apartments, Greek housing, and nearby off-campus properties. Students should check the current residence-life rules before assuming they may live off campus, since eligibility and exceptions can depend on class year and personal circumstances. Students living in university housing must select a meal plan. Campus dining combines all-you-care-to-eat service with Dining Dollars, and the university identifies vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, organic, and locally sourced options. Health, safety, student affairs, leadership, and service resources are also available. Prospective residents should compare hall layouts, accessibility, contract dates, meal-plan terms, and total housing charges rather than relying only on a standard room estimate.

Location & Surroundings

Drake's campus is at 2507 University Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa. The university occupies a 150-acre site within the state capital rather than a remote college town. That setting can be useful for students pursuing internships, public-service work, networking, or applied projects in state government, insurance, finance, health care, communications, education, and nonprofit organizations. Des Moines also provides restaurants, shopping, museums, festivals, and other cultural activities beyond campus. Students can participate in the city while retaining access to a defined residential campus, which may appeal to those seeking both campus community and metropolitan opportunities. The surrounding neighborhood includes university facilities, housing, and businesses serving students, while broader professional and cultural destinations are distributed around the metro area. Applicants should evaluate transportation in relation to their plans. A student whose internship, clinical placement, or employment is away from campus may have different mobility needs from someone whose routine centers on classes and residence halls. Visiting the campus and examining routes to likely placements can clarify whether walking, transit, cycling, ridesharing, or a car will be practical.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For students entering in 2026–2027, Drake lists gross full-time undergraduate tuition of $26,494 per semester, or $52,988 for two semesters, before scholarships and grants. This applies to enrollment of 12–18 credits per semester. The university's tuition guarantee fixes an eligible undergraduate's cohort tuition rate for up to eight consecutive fall and spring semesters; other fees, housing, food, and program expenses are not covered by that guarantee and may change. The official 2026–2027 cost-of-attendance budget estimates $71,493 for a new full-time undergraduate living on campus. That budget includes tuition, required fees, course materials, housing, food, transportation, personal expenses, and estimated federal loan fees. It is a planning allowance rather than a bill, and commuter or parent-home budgets differ. Students in graduate, law, pharmacy, occupational therapy, accelerated nursing, Bright College, and other specialized programs face separate rates. Institutional scholarships can materially reduce gross tuition, but applicants should compare personalized aid offers and net price instead of assuming the advertised scholarship range will apply. Career Services supports major exploration, internship and job searches, graduate-school planning, career fairs, and access to Handshake. Drake reports that 89.3% of Class of 2025 undergraduates completed an internship or other practical experience, based on an 85.5% knowledge rate. That is a university-reported outcome, not a guarantee of placement or employment. Applicants should seek program-level outcomes, licensing results, and employment data for their intended field.