Drake vs. Elon

Should I go to Drake University or Elon University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Drake or Elon 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. Elon University comparison
Drake University Elon University College 3 College 4
Drake University Elon University
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Overview

Drake Elon
Location Des Moines, IA Elon, NC
Setting Midsize City Small Suburban
Enrollment 4,504 7,207
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #135 #134
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website drake.edu elon.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Drake Elon
Tuition (In State) $49,466 $44,029
Tuition (Out of State) $49,466 $44,029
Room & Board $11,858 $14,478
Avg Net Price $30,886 $41,849
Avg Grant Aid $31,783 $17,523
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 69%

Admission

Drake Elon
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,741 18,791
Admitted 4,964 12,649
Acceptance Rate 64.1% 67.3%
Enrolled % 12.9% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.65
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 24/30 23/28
SAT Range 1190/1390 1143/1305
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 Jan 10, 2026

Academics

Drake Elon
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Communication (19%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

Drake Elon
Graduation Rate 75% 82%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,500 $56,200
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $268 $240

Diversity

Drake Elon
% Men 14% 4%
% Women 26% 7%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 82%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 7% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Drake Elon
% In-State 41% 18%
% Out-of-State 56% 80%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Elon University is larger than than Drake based on total student enrollment (7,207 students vs. 4,504 students)

Drake vs. Elon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drake or Elon?

  • Drake University is 12.3% more expensive to attend than Elon for in-state tuition ($49,466.00 vs. $44,029.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.3% higher at Drake than Elon University ($49,466.00 vs. $44,029.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Drake University than Elon ($30,886 vs. $41,849)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 22.1% lower than costs at Elon University ($11,858 vs. $14,478)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Drake University than Elon University (100% vs. 69%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 81.4% larger than aid received Elon University ($31,783 vs. $17,523)

Drake vs. Elon Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Drake University (1224) is 13 points higher than at Elon (1211)
  • Incoming Drake students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Elon (27)
  • Accepted freshman Drake students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Elon (3.65)
  • Elon has a higher acceptance rate (67.3%) than Drake (64.1%)

Drake vs. Elon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Drake or Elon? 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 Elon and Drake.

  • The graduation rate at Elon is higher than Drake University (82% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Drake University earn on average $12,300 more per year than Elon graduates after ten years. ($68,500 vs. $56,200)
  • Elon University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Drake graduates. ($23,250 vs. $26,000)
  • Elon graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than Drake graduates. ($240 vs. $268)
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Drake students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 84%)

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