Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Des Moines, Iowa
64.1% Acceptance Rate
Drake University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
64.1%Acceptance Rate
3.7Avg GPA
1288Avg SAT
27Avg ACT
$62,407Annual Cost
$71,901Grad Salary
21%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
64.1%
Avg GPA
3.7
Avg SAT
1288
Avg ACT
27
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1190–1390
ACT Middle 50%
24–30
Need-Based Aid
21% receive Pell
Drake University, established in 1881 in Des Moines, Iowa, is a private university ranked #3 in Regional Universities Midwest by U.S. News. Known for its law, pharmacy, and journalism programs, Drake's 150-acre campus includes the Hubbell School of Journalism and the newly renovated STEM@DRAKE facility. The university's rake Curriculum' blends liberal arts with professional preparation.
Drake's location in Iowa's capital provides internships at the state legislature, Meredith Corporation, and Principal Financial Group. The university hosts the Drake Relays, a premier track event, and offers NCAA Division I athletics. A 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensures personalized mentorship.
Drake University Acceptance Rate
Drake University is moderately selective — 64.1% of applicants are admitted — with room for a well-rounded, if imperfect, transcript.
What Drake Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 64.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.70 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.50 – 3.69
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.25
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Drake University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Drake University is February 15 for Regular Decision applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by March 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 200 days left — Regular Decision
Regular Decision
February 15
Decision by: March 15
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: January 15
💡 The scholarship deadline (December 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Drake GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Drake is 3.7. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.40 and 3.7? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.90–4.10.Drake GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective; GPA is within the typical admitted range.
Recommended Strategy: Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT) in the top 5th percentile.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.70 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.50 – 3.69
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.30 – 3.49
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.29
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No essay required for first-year or transfer admission unless specifically requested by an admission counselor.
- Drake is a Society of Actuaries-recognized Center for Actuarial Excellence - one of only 20 in the U.S.
- Direct PharmD (2+4) guarantees a PharmD seat for admitted pre-pharmacy students who meet program benchmarks.
- Average enrolled GPA is about 3.68; middle-50 test range runs roughly 1230?1320 SAT.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Drake
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Drake University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Drake University (Drake) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Drake is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Drake Without SAT or ACT?
Drake considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Drake University Average SAT Score: 1288
The average SAT score of admitted students at Drake University is 1288 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1288 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1390 SAT or 30 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Drake University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1190, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Drake. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 640 | 580 | 700 |
| SAT Reading | 650 | 610 | 690 |
| SAT Composite | 1288 | 1190 | 1390 |
Below 1190, you're behind most admitted students; at 1390 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1300
Can I get into Drake University (Drake) with a 1400 SAT?
A 1400 SAT puts you ahead of most of Drake's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Drake University (Drake) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Drake is 27.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 27 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean without being elite-tier.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 25 | 22 | 28 |
| ACT English | 27 | 23 | 31 |
| ACT Composite | 27 | 24 | 30 |
Can I get into Drake University with a 30 ACT?
A 30 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Drake's admitted students — a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section (Science, especially, at STEM-focused schools) stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Drake.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Drake
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Drake takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Consider the Direct-Admit Pharmacy Track Early
Drake's Direct PharmD program is a true 2+4 - students admitted directly out of high school skip the separate professional-school application later, cutting a year off the usual path; if a student is set on pharmacy, applying directly into this track as a first-year is worth far more than applying "undecided" and hoping to transfer in.
Don't Write an Essay Unless Asked
Drake doesn't require an admission essay at all - submitting one unprompted doesn't help and reviewing it isn't weighted differently than an application without one. Save your energy: if an admission counselor specifically requests a supplemental essay because your file needs more context, that's the moment to write a strong one, not before.
Target the 3+3 Law Pathway If Pre-Law
Drake Law allows qualified students to finish a bachelor's and JD in six years by using first-year law courses to complete the final undergraduate credits - but admission to law school under this path isn't guaranteed and still requires a competitive LSAT, so treat the "3+3" as a fast-track opportunity to apply for, not an automatic perk of enrolling as an undergrad.
Push Your Test Score Past 1320 SAT / 29 ACT for a Real Edge
Drake is need-blind on the essay but score-sensitive: crossing roughly 1320 SAT or 29 ACT with a GPA near the 3.68 average shifts an applicant from "moderately selective review" into near-automatic admit territory - worth an extra test attempt if you're close to that threshold.
Expert Insight:
Applicants sometimes assume "no essay required" means Drake doesn't care about writing ability - but if an admission counselor does request a supplemental essay, it's because the file already raised a question (inconsistent grades, gap year, etc.), and a generic, unfocused response to that specific request is a common reason otherwise-strong applicants stall in review.
Drake Profile
Full Name
Drake University (Drake)
City
Des Moines
State
Iowa
ZIP Code
50311-4505
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Drake Degree Worth It?
Whether Drake is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $70,400, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.67%.
How much does a degree from Drake Cost?
The sticker price is $62,407/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
21% of students receive a Pell Grant and 47.1% take federal loans at Drake — file your FAFSA early and list Drake as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Drake Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $71,901 — about 77% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Drake University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA | 1277 | 29 |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | 1277 | 27 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | 1263 | 28 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Drake University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
| United States Coast Guard Academy | New London, CT | 1290 | 28 |
| University of Delaware | Newark, DE | 1297 | 29 |
| Agnes Scott College | Decatur, GA | 1296 | 29 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Drake University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 1353 | 30 |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA | 1367 | 29 |
Degree Programs at Drake
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Drake Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Drake University run about $71,901 a year.
At about $62,407 a year, Drake University's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
Drake University's Pell Grant rate of 21.0% sits below the national average — merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 64.1%, Drake University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Drake University average a 3.7 GPA.
Drake University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.4 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.3, Drake University becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Drake University — aim above 1288, ideally within the 1190–1390 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Drake University is February 15 for Regular Decision applicants. Admission decisions are released by March 15.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is December 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.