- Acceptance rate: 64% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 580–680 reading and writing, 530–670 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 24–29 composite
- Average net price: $30,886 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Drake University reported: an acceptance rate of 64% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 24–29.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Drake University reviews each application.
Drake University GPA requirements
Drake University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Drake University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Drake University acceptance rate
Drake University admitted 6,304 of 9,873 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 64%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Drake University is a private nonprofit 4-year university in Des Moines, Iowa, with 2,585 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Drake University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 580 | 630 | 680 |
| SAT Math | 530 | 670 | 670 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 27 | 29 |
| ACT English | 22 | 26 | 30 |
| ACT Math | 22 | 26 | 28 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1292 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Drake University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Considered if submitted |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Drake University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $30,886 a year at Drake University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 3.0 GPA get you into Drake University?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Drake University admitted 64% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
How much does GPA matter at Drake University?
A lot: Drake University requires high school GPA and high school record. It considers college preparatory program, recommendations, essay or personal statement, test scores, demonstration of competencies and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, other tests and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Is Drake University test optional?
Yes. Drake University considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 5% sent SAT scores and 18% sent ACT scores.
What percent of applicants does Drake University accept?
Drake University's acceptance rate was 64% for fall 2024: it admitted 6,304 of 9,873 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.
How hard is it to get into Drake University?
Moderately selective: more than half of applicants got in. Drake University admitted 64% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What GPA does Drake University look for?
Drake University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
What are Drake University's SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Drake University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 580–680 in reading and writing and 530–670 in math; ACT composite 24–29, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Does Drake University consider legacy status?
No. Drake University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does Drake University accept AP credit?
Yes. Drake University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
What do students pay at Drake University after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $30,886 a year at Drake University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Before you apply, check Drake University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Drake UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
Similar colleges in Iowa
With a similar acceptance rate and size.
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