UIC vs. Drake

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago 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.

University of Illinois Chicago
Drake University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Drake Des Moines, IA
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Drake Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Drake 4,345
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Drake Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Drake #160
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Drake -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Drake Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Drake

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Drake $52,130
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Drake $52,130
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Drake $12,452
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Drake $29,565
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Drake $35,498
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Drake 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Drake 9,873
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Drake 6,304
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Drake 63.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Drake 9.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Drake 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Drake 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Drake 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Drake A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Drake Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Drake Low
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Drake 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Drake 1110/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Drake Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Drake

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Drake 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Drake
    • Business (39%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Drake 75%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Drake $68,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Drake 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Drake $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Drake $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Drake 38%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Drake 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Drake Low
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Drake No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Drake 79%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Drake 3%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Drake 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Drake 4%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Drake 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Drake 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Drake 2%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Drake 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Drake 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Drake 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Drake 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than Drake based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 4,345 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Drake University is in Des Moines, IA (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Drake University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Drake University 11:1.

UIC vs. Drake Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC 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 University of Illinois Chicago than Drake ($10,852 vs. $29,565).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 24.5% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($12,452 vs. $16,500).
  • Drake University is 263.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $37,792 more per year; $52,130.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.4% higher at Drake than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $22,246 more per year; $52,130.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drake University than at University of Illinois Chicago (100% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 111.9% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students ($35,498 vs. $16,755).

UIC vs. Drake Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC 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 UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 10 points higher than at Drake (1230).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at Drake).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Drake University 1110/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Drake University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Drake - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Drake students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Drake (63.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 9.8% at Drake.

UIC vs. Drake Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC 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).

  • Drake University's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from Drake University earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than UIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,500 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $7,250 lower median loan debt than Drake graduates ($18,750 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drake graduates ($193 vs. $268).
  • More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 68%)

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.