Drake vs. Duquesne University

Should I go to Drake University or Duquesne University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Drake or Duquesne University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Drake University vs. Duquesne University comparison
Drake University Duquesne University College 3 College 4
Drake University Duquesne University
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Overview

Drake Duquesne University
Location Des Moines, IA Pittsburgh, PA
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 4,685 8,107
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #149 #212
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website drake.edu duq.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Drake Duquesne University
Tuition (In State) $47,564 $45,376
Tuition (Out of State) $47,564 $45,376
Room & Board $11,570 $14,744
Avg Net Price $30,333 $33,919
Avg Grant Aid $31,274 $26,800
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 95%

Admission

Drake Duquesne University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,621 12,376
Admitted 5,796 10,828
Acceptance Rate 67.2% 87.5%
Enrolled % 12.6% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.8
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/30 25/31
SAT Range 1110/1340 1160/1330
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Drake Duquesne University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (31%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Drake Duquesne University
Graduation Rate 75% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,500 $65,100
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $279

Diversity

Drake Duquesne University
% Men 37% 36%
% Women 63% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 81%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Drake Duquesne University
% In-State 35% 74%
% Out-of-State 63% 24%

Campus

Drake Duquesne University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Duquesne University is larger than than Drake based on total student enrollment (8,107 students vs. 4,685 students)

Drake vs. Duquesne University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drake or Duquesne University?

  • Drake University is 4.8% more expensive to attend than Duquesne University for in-state tuition ($47,564.00 vs. $45,376.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.8% higher at Drake than Duquesne University ($47,564.00 vs. $45,376.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Drake University than Duquesne University ($30,333 vs. $33,919)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 27.4% lower than costs at Duquesne University ($11,570 vs. $14,744)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Drake University than Duquesne University (100% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 16.7% larger than aid received Duquesne University ($31,274 vs. $26,800)

Drake vs. Duquesne University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Drake or Duquesne University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Duquesne University or Drake .

  • The average SAT score at Drake University (1224) is 86 points higher than at Duquesne University (1138)
  • Incoming Drake students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Duquesne University (26)
  • Accepted freshman Duquesne University students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Drake (3.7)
  • Duquesne University has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Drake (67.2%)

Drake vs. Duquesne University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Drake or Duquesne University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Duquesne University and Drake.

  • The graduation rate at Drake is higher than Duquesne University (75% vs. 73%)
  • Graduates from Drake University earn on average $3,400 more per year than Duquesne University graduates after ten years. ($68,500 vs. $65,100)
  • Drake University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Duquesne University graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Drake graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Duquesne University graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Duquesne University students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 82%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/