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K-State Butler Creighton University ISU ESU University of Missouri-Columbia Nebraska Arkansas University of St Thomas Iowa Marquette University Grinnell| Drake University | University of Kansas | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Drake | KU | ||
| Location | Des Moines, IA | Lawrence, KS | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,685 | 26,708 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #149 | #252 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | drake.edu | ku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Drake | KU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $47,564 | $10,092 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $47,564 | $26,960 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,570 | $10,136 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $30,333 | $18,950 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,274 | $11,140 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 87% |
Admission |
Drake | KU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,621 | 16,204 | ||
| Admitted | 5,796 | 14,234 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 67.2% | 87.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.6% | 31.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.66 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/30 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1110/1340 | 1090/1340 | ||
| 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 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Drake | KU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Drake | KU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 61% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $68,500 | $54,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 84% | 66% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $211 |
Diversity |
Drake | KU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 45% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 55% | ||
| 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% | 5% | ||
| % International | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Drake | KU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 35% | 58% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 63% | 39% | ||
Campus |
Drake | KU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Kansas is larger than than Drake based on total student enrollment (26,708 students vs. 4,685 students)
Drake vs. KU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Drake or KU?
- Drake University is 371.3% more expensive to attend than KU for in-state tuition ($47,564.00 vs. $10,092.00)
- Out of state tuition is 76.4% higher at Drake than University of Kansas ($47,564.00 vs. $26,960.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kansas than Drake ($18,950 vs. $30,333)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 14.1% lower than costs at Drake University ($10,136 vs. $11,570)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Drake University than University of Kansas (100% vs. 87%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 180.7% larger than aid received University of Kansas ($31,274 vs. $11,140)
Drake vs. KU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Drake or KU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between KU or Drake .
- The average SAT score at Drake University (1224) is 79 points higher than at KU (1145)
- Incoming Drake students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at KU (25)
- Accepted freshman Drake students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at KU (3.66)
- KU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Drake (67.2%)
Drake vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Drake or KU? 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 KU and Drake.
- The graduation rate at Drake is higher than University of Kansas (75% vs. 61%)
- Graduates from Drake University earn on average $13,900 more per year than KU graduates after ten years. ($68,500 vs. $54,600)
- University of Kansas students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Drake graduates. ($20,500 vs. $26,000)
- KU 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 KU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 66%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/