Drake vs. Arcadia

Should I go to Drake University or Arcadia University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Drake or Arcadia 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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Drake University vs. Arcadia University comparison
Drake University Arcadia University College 3 College 4
Drake University Arcadia University
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Overview

Drake Arcadia
Location Des Moines, IA Glenside, PA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,685 3,026
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #149 #502
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website drake.edu arcadia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Drake Arcadia
Tuition (In State) $47,564 $46,430
Tuition (Out of State) $47,564 $46,430
Room & Board $11,570 $13,720
Avg Net Price $30,333 $29,692
Avg Grant Aid $31,274 $30,934
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Drake Arcadia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,621 6,321
Admitted 5,796 4,903
Acceptance Rate 67.2% 77.6%
Enrolled % 12.6% 10%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.42
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/30 24/29
SAT Range 1110/1340 1088/1320
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

Drake Arcadia
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Drake Arcadia
Graduation Rate 75% 62%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,500 $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $279

Diversity

Drake Arcadia
% Men 37% 32%
% Women 63% 68%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 79% 68%
% Black 4% 9%
% Hispanic 4% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 7% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Drake Arcadia
% In-State 35% 62%
% Out-of-State 63% 37%

Campus

Drake Arcadia
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 Arcadia based on total student enrollment (4,685 students vs. 3,026 students)

Drake vs. Arcadia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drake or Arcadia?

  • Drake University is 2.4% more expensive to attend than Arcadia for in-state tuition ($47,564.00 vs. $46,430.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.4% higher at Drake than Arcadia University ($47,564.00 vs. $46,430.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arcadia University than Drake ($29,692 vs. $30,333)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 18.6% lower than costs at Arcadia University ($11,570 vs. $13,720)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Drake University than Arcadia University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 1.1% larger than aid received Arcadia University ($31,274 vs. $30,934)

Drake vs. Arcadia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Drake University (1224) is 120 points higher than at Arcadia (1104)
  • Incoming Drake students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Arcadia (25)
  • Accepted freshman Drake students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Arcadia (3.42)
  • Arcadia has a higher acceptance rate (77.6%) than Drake (67.2%)

Drake vs. Arcadia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Drake or Arcadia? 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 Arcadia and Drake.

  • The graduation rate at Drake is higher than Arcadia University (75% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from Drake University earn on average $22,100 more per year than Arcadia graduates after ten years. ($68,500 vs. $46,400)
  • Drake University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Arcadia graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Drake graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Arcadia graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Arcadia students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/