IWU vs. Drake

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Drake 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.

Illinois Wesleyan University
Drake University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Drake Des Moines, IA
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Drake Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Drake 4,345
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Drake Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Drake #160
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Drake -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Drake Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Drake

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Drake $52,130
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Drake $52,130
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Drake $12,452
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Drake $29,565
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Drake $35,498
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Drake 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Drake 9,873
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Drake 6,304
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Drake 63.9%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Drake 9.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Drake 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Drake 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Drake 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Drake A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Drake Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Drake Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Drake 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Drake 1110/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Drake Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Drake

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Drake 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Drake
    • Business (39%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Drake 75%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Drake $68,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Drake 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Drake $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Drake $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Drake 38%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Drake 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Drake Low
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Drake No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Drake 79%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Drake 3%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Drake 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Drake 4%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Drake 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Drake 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Drake 2%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Drake 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Drake 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Drake 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Drake 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with Drake University in Des Moines, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Drake University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (4,345 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

IWU vs. Drake Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Drake? 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 Illinois Wesleyan University than Drake ($28,644 vs. $29,565).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 6.9% lower than at Illinois Wesleyan University ($12,452 vs. $13,370).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 10.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Drake (about $5,574 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $52,130.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.7% higher at IWU than at Drake University (about $5,574 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $52,130.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as at Drake University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 18.8% larger than aid received by Drake University students ($42,181 vs. $35,498).

IWU vs. Drake Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is the same as at Drake (1230).
  • Incoming IWU 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: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Drake University 1110/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Drake University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Drake - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Drake (3.7).
  • Drake has a higher acceptance rate (63.9%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 9.8% at Drake.

IWU vs. Drake Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Drake? 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).

  • Illinois Wesleyan University's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Drake University's (75%).
  • Graduates from Drake University earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than IWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,500 vs. $60,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Drake University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Drake graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Drake students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.