Valpo vs. Drake

Should I go to Valparaiso University or Drake University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Valpo or Drake is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Valparaiso University vs. Drake University comparison
Valparaiso University Drake University College 3 College 4
Valparaiso University Drake University
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Overview

Valpo Drake
Location Valparaiso, IN Des Moines, IA
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 2,958 4,685
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #313 #149
Religious Affiliation Lutheran Church in America - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website valpo.edu drake.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Valpo Drake
Tuition (In State) $43,400 $47,564
Tuition (Out of State) $43,400 $47,564
Room & Board $13,180 $11,570
Avg Net Price $22,755 $30,333
Avg Grant Aid $34,706 $31,274
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Valpo Drake
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,842 8,621
Admitted 6,442 5,796
Acceptance Rate 94.2% 67.2%
Enrolled % 9.4% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 27/30 25/30
SAT Range 1140/1360 1110/1340
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

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

Valpo Drake
% Men 45% 37%
% Women 55% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 79%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 8% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 7% 7%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Valpo Drake
% In-State 48% 35%
% Out-of-State 49% 63%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Drake University is larger than than Valpo based on total student enrollment (4,685 students vs. 2,958 students)

Valpo vs. Drake Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Valpo or Drake?

  • Drake University is 9.6% more expensive to attend than Valpo for in-state tuition ($47,564.00 vs. $43,400.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.6% higher at Drake than Valparaiso University ($47,564.00 vs. $43,400.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Valparaiso University than Drake ($22,755 vs. $30,333)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 13.9% lower than costs at Valparaiso University ($11,570 vs. $13,180)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Valparaiso University as Drake University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Valparaiso University students is 11% larger than aid received Drake University ($34,706 vs. $31,274)

Valpo vs. Drake Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Valpo or Drake? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Drake or Valpo .

  • The average SAT score at Drake University (1224) is 65 points higher than at Valpo (1159)
  • Incoming Drake students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Valpo (26)
  • 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 (94.2%) than Drake (67.2%)

Valpo vs. Drake Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Valpo 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 Valpo.

  • The graduation rate at Drake is higher than Valparaiso University (75% vs. 71%)
  • Graduates from Drake University earn on average $14,500 more per year than Valpo graduates after ten years. ($68,500 vs. $54,000)
  • Drake University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Valpo graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Drake graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans 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/