Drake vs. MSOE

Deciding between Drake University and Milwaukee School of Engineering? 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
Milwaukee School of Engineering

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Drake Des Moines, IA
  • MSOE Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • Drake Midsize City
  • MSOE Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Drake 4,345
  • MSOE 2,953
  • Type
  • Drake Private 4 Year
  • MSOE Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Drake #160
  • MSOE #230
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Drake -
  • MSOE -
  • Status
  • Drake Non-profit
  • MSOE Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Drake
  • MSOE

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Drake $52,130
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Drake $52,130
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Room & Board
  • Drake $12,452
  • MSOE $13,984
  • Average Net Price
  • Drake $29,565
  • MSOE $25,669
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Drake $35,498
  • MSOE $36,997
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Drake 100%
  • MSOE 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Drake 9,873
  • MSOE 6,287
  • Admitted
  • Drake 6,304
  • MSOE 3,705
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Drake 63.9%
  • MSOE 58.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Drake 9.8%
  • MSOE 17.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Drake 1230
  • MSOE 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • Drake 26
  • MSOE 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Drake 3.7
  • MSOE 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Drake A-
  • MSOE A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Drake Difficult
  • MSOE Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Drake Low
  • MSOE Low
  • ACT Range
  • Drake 24/29
  • MSOE 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • Drake 1110/1350
  • MSOE 1160/1405
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Drake Test optional
  • MSOE Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Drake
  • MSOE Sep 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Drake 11:1
  • MSOE 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Drake
    • Business (39%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • MSOE
    • Engineering (66%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Communication (1%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Drake 75%
  • MSOE 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Drake $68,500
  • MSOE $68,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Drake 84%
  • MSOE 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Drake $26,000
  • MSOE $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Drake $268
  • MSOE $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Drake 38%
  • MSOE 70%
  • % Women
  • Drake 62%
  • MSOE 30%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Drake Low
  • MSOE Medium
  • HBCU
  • Drake No
  • MSOE No
  • % White
  • Drake 79%
  • MSOE 66%
  • % Asian
  • Drake 3%
  • MSOE 3%
  • % Black
  • Drake 4%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Drake 4%
  • MSOE 5%
  • % Native American
  • Drake 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Drake 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Drake 2%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % International
  • Drake 7%
  • MSOE 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Drake 0%
  • MSOE 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Drake 44%
  • MSOE 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Drake 51%
  • MSOE 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Drake University in Des Moines, IA with Milwaukee School of Engineering in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Drake University is larger than MSOE based on total student enrollment (4,345 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Drake University is located in Des Moines, IA (Midsize City setting); Milwaukee School of Engineering is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • Drake University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Milwaukee School of Engineering is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Drake University 11:1; Milwaukee School of Engineering 12:1.

Drake vs. MSOE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drake or MSOE? 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 Milwaukee School of Engineering than Drake ($25,669 vs. $29,565).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 11% lower than at Milwaukee School of Engineering ($12,452 vs. $13,984).
  • Drake University is 3.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MSOE (about $1,650 more per year; $52,130.00 vs. $50,480.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at Drake than at Milwaukee School of Engineering (about $1,650 more per year; $52,130.00 vs. $50,480.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Drake University as at Milwaukee School of Engineering (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee School of Engineering students is 4.2% larger than aid received by Drake University students ($36,997 vs. $35,498).

Drake vs. MSOE Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Milwaukee School of Engineering (1280) is 50 points higher than at Drake (1230).
  • Incoming MSOE students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at Drake).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drake University 1110/1350; Milwaukee School of Engineering 1160/1405.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drake University 24/29; Milwaukee School of Engineering 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drake - Test optional; MSOE - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MSOE Sep 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman Drake students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at MSOE (3.65).
  • Drake has a higher acceptance rate (63.9%) than MSOE (58.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at Drake vs. 17.2% at MSOE.

Drake vs. MSOE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drake and MSOE? 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 Milwaukee School of Engineering's (57%).
  • Graduates from Milwaukee School of Engineering earn a median of about $400 more per year than Drake graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,900 vs. $68,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Drake University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than MSOE graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Drake graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MSOE graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSOE students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 83%)

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.