Moderately selectiveReviewed for the 2025-2026 cycle

Drake University acceptance rate and admissions profile

With an acceptance rate near 64%, Drake University is a moderately selective private college in Iowa. Because it admits more applicants than it rejects, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Use this page to see what Drake University weighs, where it ranks among Iowa schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1300, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
64%
Moderately selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1300
of admitted students
Type
Private
Iowa
Selectivity in state
#3
of 21 in IA
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Will I get into Drake University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Drake University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Drake University?

Drake University admits most qualified applicants (around 64%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Drake University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Drake University hard to get into?

Drake University is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 64% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Drake University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Drake University, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. Drake University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Drake University?

Drake University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1300. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Drake University.

Calculate your chances at Drake University

What Drake University looks for

What Drake University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

In its review, Drake University leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Drake University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Important
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Drake University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Drake University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300In the competitive admitted range
1200Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1300 SAT →Colleges for a 28 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Drake University compares in Iowa

Drake University ranks #3 most selective of 21 schools in Iowa in our database.

Among the 21 Iowa schools we track, Drake University ranks #3 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Grinnell College (15%) and William Penn University (52%) sit nearby, which makes Iowa a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

Grinnell College
15%acceptance · IA
William Penn University
52%acceptance · IA
Coe College
64%acceptance · IA
Briar Cliff University
65%acceptance · IA
Dordt University
68%acceptance · IA
Morningside University
71%acceptance · IA
Luther College
72%acceptance · IA
Clarke University
72%acceptance · IA
See all Iowa schools →

Similar to Drake University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Build around Drake University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Berry College, Clark Atlanta University, and Coe College. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Berry College
64%acceptance · GA
Clark Atlanta University
64%acceptance · GA
Coe College
64%acceptance · IA
Florida Southern College
64%acceptance · FL
Fresno Pacific University
64%acceptance · CA
Hobart College
64%acceptance · NY

Frequently asked questions

What does Drake University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Drake University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Drake University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Drake University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Drake University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Drake University specifically.

What are the admission requirements for Drake University?

Drake University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.