Drake vs. Emerson

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

Drake Emerson
Location Des Moines, IA Boston, MA
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 4,685 5,891
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #149 #235
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website drake.edu emerson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Drake Emerson
Tuition (In State) $47,564 $52,288
Tuition (Out of State) $47,564 $52,288
Room & Board $11,570 $19,528
Avg Net Price $30,333 $51,432
Avg Grant Aid $31,274 $24,360
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 78%

Admission

Drake Emerson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,621 12,109
Admitted 5,796 5,176
Acceptance Rate 67.2% 42.7%
Enrolled % 12.6% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.73
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 25/30 30/32
SAT Range 1110/1340 1250/1430
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 Feb 20, 2024

Academics

Drake Emerson
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Communication (33%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
  • English and Literature (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Health Professions (2%)

Outcomes

Drake Emerson
Graduation Rate 75% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,500 $49,200
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $242

Diversity

Drake Emerson
% Men 37% 28%
% Women 63% 72%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 79% 67%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 7% 7%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

Drake Emerson
% In-State 35% 14%
% Out-of-State 63% 69%

Campus

Drake Emerson
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

  • Emerson College is larger than than Drake based on total student enrollment (5,891 students vs. 4,685 students)

Drake vs. Emerson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drake or Emerson?

  • Emerson College is 9.9% more expensive to attend than Drake for in-state tuition ($52,288.00 vs. $47,564.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.9% higher at Emerson than Drake University ($52,288.00 vs. $47,564.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Drake University than Emerson ($30,333 vs. $51,432)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 68.8% lower than costs at Emerson College ($11,570 vs. $19,528)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Drake University than Emerson College (100% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 28.4% larger than aid received Emerson College ($31,274 vs. $24,360)

Drake vs. Emerson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Drake University (1224) is 13 points higher than at Emerson (1211)
  • Incoming Drake students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Emerson (27)
  • Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Drake (3.7)
  • Drake has a higher acceptance rate (67.2%) than Emerson (42.7%)

Drake vs. Emerson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Emerson is higher than Drake University (81% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Drake University earn on average $19,300 more per year than Emerson graduates after ten years. ($68,500 vs. $49,200)
  • Emerson College students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Drake graduates. ($23,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Emerson graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Drake graduates. ($242 vs. $268)
  • More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 80%)

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