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Butler BU NYU Creighton University Fordham Syracuse ISU University of St Thomas Northeastern Emmanuel College Bentley Skidmore College| Drake University | Emerson College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Drake | Emerson | ||
| Location | Des Moines, IA | Boston, MA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,504 | 5,670 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #135 | #215 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | drake.edu | emerson.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Drake | Emerson | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $49,466 | $54,400 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $49,466 | $54,400 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,858 | $20,310 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $30,886 | $50,703 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,783 | $26,447 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 78% |
Admission |
Drake | Emerson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,741 | 11,092 | ||
| Admitted | 4,964 | 5,267 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 64.1% | 47.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.9% | 18.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.73 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 24/30 | 30/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1390 | 1250/1410 | ||
| 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 | Feb 20, 2026 |
Academics |
Drake | Emerson | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Drake | Emerson | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $68,500 | $49,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 84% | 80% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $23,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $242 |
Diversity |
Drake | Emerson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 14% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 26% | 23% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 3% |
Students |
Drake | Emerson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 41% | 15% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 56% | 68% | ||
Campus |
Drake | Emerson | ||
| 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
- Emerson College is larger than than Drake based on total student enrollment (5,670 students vs. 4,504 students)
Drake vs. Emerson Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Drake or Emerson?
- Emerson College is 10% more expensive to attend than Drake for in-state tuition ($54,400.00 vs. $49,466.00)
- Out of state tuition is 10% higher at Emerson than Drake University ($54,400.00 vs. $49,466.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Drake University than Emerson ($30,886 vs. $50,703)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 71.3% lower than costs at Emerson College ($11,858 vs. $20,310)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Drake University than Emerson College (100% vs. 78%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 20.2% larger than aid received Emerson College ($31,783 vs. $26,447)
Drake vs. Emerson Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Drake or Emerson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Emerson or Drake .
- The average SAT score at Drake University (1224) is 13 points higher than at Emerson (1211)
- Incoming Drake students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Emerson (27)
- Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Drake (3.7)
- Drake has a higher acceptance rate (64.1%) than Emerson (47.5%)
Drake vs. Emerson Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Drake or Emerson? 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 Emerson and Drake.
- The graduation rate at Emerson is higher than Drake University (81% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from Drake University earn on average $19,300 more per year than Emerson graduates after ten years. ($68,500 vs. $49,200)
- Emerson College students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Drake graduates. ($23,500 vs. $26,000)
- Emerson graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Drake graduates. ($242 vs. $268)
- More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 80%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/