DePaul vs. Drake

Deciding between DePaul University and Drake University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

DePaul University
Drake University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • DePaul Chicago, IL
  • Drake Des Moines, IA
  • Setting
  • DePaul Large City
  • Drake Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • DePaul 21,210
  • Drake 4,345
  • Type
  • DePaul Private 4 Year
  • Drake Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DePaul #253
  • Drake #160
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DePaul Roman Catholic
  • Drake -
  • Status
  • DePaul Non-profit
  • Drake Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DePaul
  • Drake

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DePaul $45,999
  • Drake $52,130
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DePaul $45,999
  • Drake $52,130
  • Room & Board
  • DePaul $19,095
  • Drake $12,452
  • Average Net Price
  • DePaul $34,135
  • Drake $29,565
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DePaul $29,285
  • Drake $35,498
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DePaul 100%
  • Drake 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DePaul 31,266
  • Drake 9,873
  • Admitted
  • DePaul 23,729
  • Drake 6,304
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DePaul 75.9%
  • Drake 63.9%
  • Enrolled
  • DePaul 10.8%
  • Drake 9.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DePaul 1240
  • Drake 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • DePaul 28
  • Drake 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • DePaul 3.8
  • Drake 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DePaul A-
  • Drake A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • DePaul Difficult
  • Drake Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • DePaul
  • Drake Low
  • ACT Range
  • DePaul 25/31
  • Drake 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • DePaul 1140/1330
  • Drake 1110/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DePaul Test optional
  • Drake Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • DePaul Feb 1, 2027
  • Drake

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DePaul 17:1
  • Drake 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DePaul
    • Business (33%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Drake
    • Business (39%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DePaul 66%
  • Drake 75%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DePaul $56,900
  • Drake $68,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DePaul 62%
  • Drake 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DePaul $23,332
  • Drake $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DePaul $241
  • Drake $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DePaul 45%
  • Drake 38%
  • % Women
  • DePaul 55%
  • Drake 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DePaul High
  • Drake Low
  • HBCU
  • DePaul No
  • Drake No
  • % White
  • DePaul 55%
  • Drake 79%
  • % Asian
  • DePaul 8%
  • Drake 3%
  • % Black
  • DePaul 8%
  • Drake 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • DePaul 18%
  • Drake 4%
  • % Native American
  • DePaul 0%
  • Drake 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DePaul 0%
  • Drake 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DePaul 4%
  • Drake 2%
  • % International
  • DePaul 3%
  • Drake 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DePaul 4%
  • Drake 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DePaul 64%
  • Drake 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DePaul 32%
  • Drake 51%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • DePaul Yes
  • Drake Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • DePaul No
  • Drake No
  • Meal Plan
  • DePaul Yes
  • Drake Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • DePaul Yes
  • Drake No
  • Daycare Facility
  • DePaul No
  • Drake No

Comparable Facts

Compare DePaul University in Chicago, IL with Drake University in Des Moines, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

DePaul University is larger than Drake based on total student enrollment (21,210 students vs. 4,345 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • DePaul University is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Drake University is in Des Moines, IA (Midsize City setting).
  • DePaul University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Drake University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: DePaul University 17:1; Drake University 11:1.

DePaul vs. Drake Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DePaul or Drake? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Drake University than DePaul ($29,565 vs. $34,135).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 34.8% lower than at DePaul University ($12,452 vs. $19,095).
  • Drake University is 13.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than DePaul (about $6,131 more per year; $52,130.00 vs. $45,999.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.3% higher at Drake than at DePaul University (about $6,131 more per year; $52,130.00 vs. $45,999.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at DePaul University as at Drake University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 21.2% larger than aid received by DePaul University students ($35,498 vs. $29,285).

DePaul vs. Drake Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DePaul or Drake? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Drake and DePaul.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at DePaul University (1240) is 10 points higher than at Drake (1230).
  • Incoming DePaul students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at Drake).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePaul University 1140/1330; Drake University 1110/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePaul University 25/31; Drake University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DePaul - Test optional; Drake - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: DePaul Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman DePaul students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Drake (3.7).
  • DePaul has a higher acceptance rate (75.9%) than Drake (63.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.8% at DePaul vs. 9.8% at Drake.

DePaul vs. Drake Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DePaul and Drake? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Drake University's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than DePaul University's (66%).
  • Graduates from Drake University earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than DePaul graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,500 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, DePaul University graduates have a $2,668 lower median loan debt than Drake graduates ($23,332 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, DePaul graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drake graduates ($241 vs. $268).
  • More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DePaul students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.