Drake vs. Gonzaga

Deciding between Drake University and Gonzaga 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.

Drake University
Gonzaga University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Drake Des Moines, IA
  • Gonzaga Spokane, WA
  • Setting
  • Drake Midsize City
  • Gonzaga Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Drake 4,345
  • Gonzaga 7,470
  • Type
  • Drake Private 4 Year
  • Gonzaga Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Drake #160
  • Gonzaga #180
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Drake -
  • Gonzaga Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Drake Non-profit
  • Gonzaga Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Drake
  • Gonzaga

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Drake $52,130
  • Gonzaga $55,480
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Drake $52,130
  • Gonzaga $55,480
  • Room & Board
  • Drake $12,452
  • Gonzaga $15,730
  • Average Net Price
  • Drake $29,565
  • Gonzaga $40,117
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Drake $35,498
  • Gonzaga $33,390
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Drake 100%
  • Gonzaga 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Drake 9,873
  • Gonzaga 8,759
  • Admitted
  • Drake 6,304
  • Gonzaga 7,155
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Drake 63.9%
  • Gonzaga 81.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Drake 9.8%
  • Gonzaga 17.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Drake 1230
  • Gonzaga 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Drake 26
  • Gonzaga 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Drake 3.7
  • Gonzaga 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Drake A-
  • Gonzaga A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Drake Difficult
  • Gonzaga Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Drake Low
  • Gonzaga
  • ACT Range
  • Drake 24/29
  • Gonzaga 27/31
  • SAT Range
  • Drake 1110/1350
  • Gonzaga 1190/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Drake Test optional
  • Gonzaga Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Drake
  • Gonzaga Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Drake 11:1
  • Gonzaga 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Drake
    • Business (39%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Gonzaga
    • Business (29%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Drake 75%
  • Gonzaga 83%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Drake $68,500
  • Gonzaga $61,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Drake 84%
  • Gonzaga 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Drake $26,000
  • Gonzaga $26,394
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Drake $268
  • Gonzaga $272

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Drake 38%
  • Gonzaga 44%
  • % Women
  • Drake 62%
  • Gonzaga 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Drake Low
  • Gonzaga Low
  • HBCU
  • Drake No
  • Gonzaga No
  • % White
  • Drake 79%
  • Gonzaga 72%
  • % Asian
  • Drake 3%
  • Gonzaga 5%
  • % Black
  • Drake 4%
  • Gonzaga 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • Drake 4%
  • Gonzaga 10%
  • % Native American
  • Drake 0%
  • Gonzaga 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Drake 0%
  • Gonzaga 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Drake 2%
  • Gonzaga 6%
  • % International
  • Drake 7%
  • Gonzaga 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Drake 0%
  • Gonzaga 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Drake 44%
  • Gonzaga 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Drake 51%
  • Gonzaga 48%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Drake University in Des Moines, IA with Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Gonzaga University is larger than Drake based on total student enrollment (7,470 students vs. 4,345 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Drake University is located in Des Moines, IA (Midsize City setting); Gonzaga University is in Spokane, WA (Midsize City setting).
  • Drake University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Gonzaga University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Drake University 11:1; Gonzaga University 12:1.

Drake vs. Gonzaga Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drake or Gonzaga? 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 Gonzaga ($29,565 vs. $40,117).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 20.8% lower than at Gonzaga University ($12,452 vs. $15,730).
  • Gonzaga University is 6.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Drake (about $3,350 more per year; $55,480.00 vs. $52,130.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.4% higher at Gonzaga than at Drake University (about $3,350 more per year; $55,480.00 vs. $52,130.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Drake University as at Gonzaga University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 6.3% larger than aid received by Gonzaga University students ($35,498 vs. $33,390).

Drake vs. Gonzaga Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Drake or Gonzaga? 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 Gonzaga and Drake.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Gonzaga University (1290) is 60 points higher than at Drake (1230).
  • Incoming Gonzaga students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at Drake).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drake University 1110/1350; Gonzaga University 1190/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drake University 24/29; Gonzaga University 27/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drake - Test optional; Gonzaga - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Gonzaga Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Drake students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Gonzaga (3.67).
  • Gonzaga has a higher acceptance rate (81.7%) than Drake (63.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at Drake vs. 17.5% at Gonzaga.

Drake vs. Gonzaga Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drake and Gonzaga? 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).

  • Gonzaga University's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than Drake University's (75%).
  • Graduates from Drake University earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than Gonzaga graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,500 vs. $61,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Drake University graduates have a $394 lower median loan debt than Gonzaga graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,394).
  • Among borrowers, Drake graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gonzaga graduates ($268 vs. $272).
  • More Gonzaga 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.