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Wisconsin Purdue ISU Michigan Georgia Tech UT Austin UIC Loyola Ohio State IU Minnesota ISU| University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign | Drake University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Illinois | Drake | ||
| Location | Champaign, IL | Des Moines, IA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 56,563 | 4,504 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #120 | #135 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinois.edu | drake.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Illinois | Drake | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,712 | $49,466 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $31,208 | $49,466 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,938 | $11,858 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,297 | $30,886 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $17,524 | $31,783 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 48% | 100% |
Admission |
Illinois | Drake | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 67,398 | 7,741 | ||
| Admitted | 29,446 | 4,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 43.7% | 64.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.3% | 12.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.79 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/34 | 24/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1270/1510 | 1190/1390 | ||
| 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 | Jan 5, 2026 |
Academics |
Illinois | Drake | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Illinois | Drake | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $66,500 | $68,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $268 |
Diversity |
Illinois | Drake | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 21% | 14% | ||
| % Women | 16% | 26% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 16% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
Illinois | Drake | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 73% | 41% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 12% | 56% | ||
Campus |
Illinois | Drake | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is larger than than Drake based on total student enrollment (56,563 students vs. 4,504 students)
Illinois vs. Drake Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Illinois or Drake?
- Drake University is 289.1% more expensive to attend than Illinois for in-state tuition ($49,466.00 vs. $12,712.00)
- Out of state tuition is 58.5% higher at Drake than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($49,466.00 vs. $31,208.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign than Drake ($14,297 vs. $30,886)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 17.5% lower than costs at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($11,858 vs. $13,938)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Drake University than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (100% vs. 48%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 81.4% larger than aid received University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($31,783 vs. $17,524)
Illinois vs. Drake Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Illinois or Drake? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Drake or Illinois .
- The average SAT score at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (1305) is 81 points higher than at Drake (1224)
- Incoming Illinois students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Drake (27)
- Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Drake (3.7)
- Drake has a higher acceptance rate (64.1%) than Illinois (43.7%)
Illinois vs. Drake Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Illinois or Drake? 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 Drake and Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Illinois is higher than Drake University (82% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from Drake University earn on average $2,000 more per year than Illinois graduates after ten years. ($68,500 vs. $66,500)
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Drake graduates. ($20,500 vs. $26,000)
- Illinois 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 Illinois students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 78%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/