Drake vs. Rockhurst

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

Drake Rockhurst
Location Des Moines, IA Kansas City, MO
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 4,685 3,405
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #149 #285
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website drake.edu rockhurst.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Drake Rockhurst
Tuition (In State) $47,564 $40,700
Tuition (Out of State) $47,564 $40,700
Room & Board $11,570 $10,280
Avg Net Price $30,333 $22,994
Avg Grant Aid $31,274 $32,842
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Drake Rockhurst
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,621 3,154
Admitted 5,796 2,096
Acceptance Rate 67.2% 66.5%
Enrolled % 12.6% 13.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.62
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 25/30 19/26
SAT Range 1110/1340 1083/1288
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 Jun 30, 2025

Academics

Drake Rockhurst
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Health Professions (31%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Drake Rockhurst
Graduation Rate 75% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,500 $53,500
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $211

Diversity

Drake Rockhurst
% Men 37% 35%
% Women 63% 65%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 72%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 7% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 8%

Students

Drake Rockhurst
% In-State 35% 58%
% Out-of-State 63% 39%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Drake University is larger than than Rockhurst based on total student enrollment (4,685 students vs. 3,405 students)

Drake vs. Rockhurst Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drake or Rockhurst?

  • Drake University is 16.9% more expensive to attend than Rockhurst for in-state tuition ($47,564.00 vs. $40,700.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.9% higher at Drake than Rockhurst University ($47,564.00 vs. $40,700.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rockhurst University than Drake ($22,994 vs. $30,333)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rockhurst University are 12.5% lower than costs at Drake University ($10,280 vs. $11,570)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Drake University as Rockhurst University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rockhurst University students is 5% larger than aid received Drake University ($32,842 vs. $31,274)

Drake vs. Rockhurst Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Drake University (1224) is 62 points higher than at Rockhurst (1162)
  • Incoming Drake students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Rockhurst (26)
  • Accepted freshman Drake students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Rockhurst (3.62)
  • Drake has a higher acceptance rate (67.2%) than Rockhurst (66.5%)

Drake vs. Rockhurst Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Drake is higher than Rockhurst University (75% vs. 74%)
  • Graduates from Drake University earn on average $15,000 more per year than Rockhurst graduates after ten years. ($68,500 vs. $53,500)
  • Rockhurst University students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Drake graduates. ($20,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Rockhurst graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Drake graduates. ($211 vs. $268)
  • More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rockhurst students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 74%)

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