Drake vs. Belmont

Deciding between Drake University and Belmont 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.

Drake University
Belmont University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Drake Des Moines, IA
  • Belmont Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • Drake Midsize City
  • Belmont Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Drake 4,345
  • Belmont 8,803
  • Type
  • Drake Private 4 Year
  • Belmont Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Drake #160
  • Belmont #300
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Drake -
  • Belmont Interdenominational
  • Status
  • Drake Non-profit
  • Belmont Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Drake
  • Belmont

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Drake $52,130
  • Belmont $42,540
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Drake $52,130
  • Belmont $42,540
  • Room & Board
  • Drake $12,452
  • Belmont $15,010
  • Average Net Price
  • Drake $29,565
  • Belmont $38,578
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Drake $35,498
  • Belmont $23,992
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Drake 100%
  • Belmont 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Drake 9,873
  • Belmont 9,165
  • Admitted
  • Drake 6,304
  • Belmont 8,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Drake 63.9%
  • Belmont 95.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Drake 9.8%
  • Belmont 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Drake 1230
  • Belmont 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Drake 26
  • Belmont 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Drake 3.7
  • Belmont 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Drake A-
  • Belmont A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Drake Difficult
  • Belmont Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Drake Low
  • Belmont
  • ACT Range
  • Drake 24/29
  • Belmont 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • Drake 1110/1350
  • Belmont 1160/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Drake Test optional
  • Belmont Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Drake
  • Belmont Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Drake 11:1
  • Belmont 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Drake
    • Business (39%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Belmont
    • Visual and Performing Arts (34%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (5%)
    • Communications Technology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Drake 75%
  • Belmont 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Drake $68,500
  • Belmont $49,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Drake 84%
  • Belmont 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Drake $26,000
  • Belmont $21,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Drake $268
  • Belmont $225

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Drake 38%
  • Belmont 34%
  • % Women
  • Drake 62%
  • Belmont 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Drake Low
  • Belmont Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Drake No
  • Belmont No
  • % White
  • Drake 79%
  • Belmont 80%
  • % Asian
  • Drake 3%
  • Belmont 2%
  • % Black
  • Drake 4%
  • Belmont 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Drake 4%
  • Belmont 5%
  • % Native American
  • Drake 0%
  • Belmont 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Drake 0%
  • Belmont 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Drake 2%
  • Belmont 4%
  • % International
  • Drake 7%
  • Belmont 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Drake 0%
  • Belmont 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Drake 44%
  • Belmont 35%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Drake 51%
  • Belmont 64%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Drake University in Des Moines, IA with Belmont University in Nashville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Belmont University is larger than Drake based on total student enrollment (8,803 students vs. 4,345 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Drake University is located in Des Moines, IA (Midsize City setting); Belmont University is in Nashville, TN (Large City setting).
  • Drake University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Belmont University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Drake University 11:1; Belmont University 12:1.

Drake vs. Belmont Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drake or Belmont? 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 Drake University than Belmont ($29,565 vs. $38,578).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 17% lower than at Belmont University ($12,452 vs. $15,010).
  • Drake University is 22.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Belmont (about $9,590 more per year; $52,130.00 vs. $42,540.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.5% higher at Drake than at Belmont University (about $9,590 more per year; $52,130.00 vs. $42,540.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drake University than at Belmont University (100% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 48% larger than aid received by Belmont University students ($35,498 vs. $23,992).

Drake vs. Belmont Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Drake or Belmont? 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 Belmont and Drake.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Belmont University (1260) is 30 points higher than at Drake (1230).
  • Incoming Belmont 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: Drake University 1110/1350; Belmont University 1160/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drake University 24/29; Belmont University 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drake - Test optional; Belmont - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Belmont Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Belmont students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Drake (3.7).
  • Belmont has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Drake (63.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at Drake vs. 17.7% at Belmont.

Drake vs. Belmont Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drake and Belmont? 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 Belmont University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Drake University earn a median of about $19,400 more per year than Belmont graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,500 vs. $49,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Belmont University graduates have a $4,220 lower median loan debt than Drake graduates ($21,780 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Belmont graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drake graduates ($225 vs. $268).
  • More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Belmont students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 76%)

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.