Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Drake University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 32% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 91st percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (IA wage index 0.90). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Drake University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $80,044 | $97,132 | +13% | #31 of 126 | #26 | $23,979 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $69,835 | $90,639 | -2% | #193 of 459 | #170 | $19,000 |
| Economics | — | $88,638 | +7% | #111 of 368 | #80 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $62,049 | $88,637 | +6% | #116 of 452 | #86 | $25,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $65,922 | $87,582 | +15% | #145 of 796 | #103 | $20,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | — | $87,551 | +5% | #63 of 166 | #49 | — |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | — | $75,867 | -35% | #23 of 29 | #23 | $23,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $47,806 | $73,523 | +8% | #275 of 1176 | #183 | $17,053 |
| Marketing | $51,968 | $71,246 | +3% | #171 of 516 | #126 | $19,000 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | — | $67,547 | +3% | #47 of 110 | #27 | $20,375 |
| Political Science and Government | — | $67,257 | +6% | #160 of 565 | #99 | $20,500 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $44,492 | $63,302 | +-0% | #81 of 178 | #66 | $21,500 |
| Journalism | $41,913 | $62,969 | +12% | #28 of 187 | #17 | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | — | $58,834 | +14% | #92 of 299 | #60 | — |
| English Language and Literature | — | $57,563 | +18% | #93 of 576 | #42 | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $19,613 | $54,950 | +38% | #5 of 255 | #3 | — |
| Legal Professions and Studies | $29,273 | $52,326 | -8% | #10 of 13 | #9 | $23,125 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | — | $50,591 | +4% | #56 of 137 | #53 | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | — | $49,764 | -25% | #107 of 118 | #102 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $41,630 | $49,289 | +4% | #275 of 680 | #240 | $27,000 |
| Psychology | — | $47,706 | -6% | #666 of 1027 | #537 | $20,248 |
| History | — | $42,256 | -17% | #416 of 459 | #389 | — |
| Music | — | $42,233 | -2% | #154 of 268 | #127 | — |
| Biology | $41,226 | — | — | — | — | $25,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Drake University Town Property Report
- Avg home value near campus: $232,728
- Avg rent near campus: $963/mo — vs ~$719/mo campus room rate
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 50316 (5.6% cap, Des Moines)
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🏆 Where Drake University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $49,466 | $49,466 |
| Room | $6,470 | |
| Board | $5,388 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $67,080 | $67,080 |
Financial Aid
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Drake University's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Drake University?
How much does it cost to attend Drake University?
What is the graduation rate at Drake University?
Is Drake University a good school?
- Outcomes (A): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Drake University?
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Drake University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to Drake University
Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology