Valpo vs. Drake

Deciding between Valparaiso 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.

Valparaiso University
Drake University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Valpo Valparaiso, IN
  • Drake Des Moines, IA
  • Setting
  • Valpo Large Suburban
  • Drake Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Valpo 2,579
  • Drake 4,345
  • Type
  • Valpo Private 4 Year
  • Drake Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Valpo #302
  • Drake #160
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Valpo Lutheran Church in America
  • Drake -
  • Status
  • Valpo Non-profit
  • Drake Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Valpo
  • Drake

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Valpo $48,450
  • Drake $52,130
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Valpo $48,450
  • Drake $52,130
  • Room & Board
  • Valpo $13,618
  • Drake $12,452
  • Average Net Price
  • Valpo $21,766
  • Drake $29,565
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Valpo $37,548
  • Drake $35,498
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Valpo 100%
  • Drake 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Valpo 6,199
  • Drake 9,873
  • Admitted
  • Valpo 5,544
  • Drake 6,304
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Valpo 89.4%
  • Drake 63.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Valpo 9.6%
  • Drake 9.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Valpo 1170
  • Drake 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • Valpo 27
  • Drake 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Valpo 3.76
  • Drake 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Valpo A-
  • Drake A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Valpo Difficult
  • Drake Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Valpo
  • Drake Low
  • ACT Range
  • Valpo 23/31
  • Drake 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Valpo 1060/1280
  • Drake 1110/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Valpo Test optional
  • Drake Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Valpo
  • Drake

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Valpo 10:1
  • Drake 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Valpo
    • Business (13%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Education (5%)
  • Drake
    • Business (39%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Valpo 71%
  • Drake 75%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Valpo $54,000
  • Drake $68,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Valpo 77%
  • Drake 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Valpo $27,000
  • Drake $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Valpo $279
  • Drake $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Valpo 42%
  • Drake 38%
  • % Women
  • Valpo 58%
  • Drake 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Valpo Medium
  • Drake Low
  • HBCU
  • Valpo No
  • Drake No
  • % White
  • Valpo 72%
  • Drake 79%
  • % Asian
  • Valpo 2%
  • Drake 3%
  • % Black
  • Valpo 6%
  • Drake 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Valpo 8%
  • Drake 4%
  • % Native American
  • Valpo 0%
  • Drake 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Valpo 0%
  • Drake 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Valpo 3%
  • Drake 2%
  • % International
  • Valpo 7%
  • Drake 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Valpo 2%
  • Drake 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Valpo 56%
  • Drake 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Valpo 42%
  • Drake 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, IN 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 Valpo based on total student enrollment (4,345 students vs. 2,579 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Valparaiso University is located in Valparaiso, IN (Large Suburban setting); Drake University is in Des Moines, IA (Midsize City setting).
  • Valparaiso University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Drake University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Valparaiso University 10:1; Drake University 11:1.

Valpo vs. Drake Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Valpo 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 Valparaiso University than Drake ($21,766 vs. $29,565).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 8.6% lower than at Valparaiso University ($12,452 vs. $13,618).
  • Drake University is 7.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Valpo (about $3,680 more per year; $52,130.00 vs. $48,450.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.6% higher at Drake than at Valparaiso University (about $3,680 more per year; $52,130.00 vs. $48,450.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Valparaiso University as at Drake University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Valparaiso University students is 5.8% larger than aid received by Drake University students ($37,548 vs. $35,498).

Valpo vs. Drake Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Valpo 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 Valpo.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Drake University (1230) is 60 points higher than at Valpo (1170).
  • Incoming Valpo 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: Valparaiso University 1060/1280; Drake University 1110/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Valparaiso University 23/31; Drake University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Valpo - Test optional; Drake - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Valpo students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Drake (3.7).
  • Valpo has a higher acceptance rate (89.4%) than Drake (63.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.6% at Valpo vs. 9.8% at Drake.

Valpo vs. Drake Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Valpo 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 Valparaiso University's (71%).
  • Graduates from Drake University earn a median of about $14,500 more per year than Valpo graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,500 vs. $54,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Drake University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Valpo graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Drake graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Valpo graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Valpo students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 77%)

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.