Drake vs. SPU

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

Drake SPU
Location Des Moines, IA Seattle, WA
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 4,685 3,118
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #149 #270
Religious Affiliation - Free Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website drake.edu spu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Drake SPU
Tuition (In State) $47,564 $36,504
Tuition (Out of State) $47,564 $36,504
Room & Board $11,570 $14,409
Avg Net Price $30,333 $26,549
Avg Grant Aid $31,274 $25,359
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Drake SPU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,621 3,895
Admitted 5,796 3,533
Acceptance Rate 67.2% 90.7%
Enrolled % 12.6% 15.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.53
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/30 20/27
SAT Range 1110/1340 1080/1350
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 Jul 11, 2024

Academics

Drake SPU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Drake SPU
Graduation Rate 75% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,500 $50,400
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,603
Median Loan Payment $268 $264

Diversity

Drake SPU
% Men 37% 31%
% Women 63% 69%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 79% 61%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 8%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Drake SPU
% In-State 35% 71%
% Out-of-State 63% 26%

Campus

Drake SPU
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 SPU based on total student enrollment (4,685 students vs. 3,118 students)

Drake vs. SPU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drake or SPU?

  • Drake University is 30.3% more expensive to attend than SPU for in-state tuition ($47,564.00 vs. $36,504.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.3% higher at Drake than Seattle Pacific University ($47,564.00 vs. $36,504.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Seattle Pacific University than Drake ($26,549 vs. $30,333)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 24.5% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($11,570 vs. $14,409)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Drake University than Seattle Pacific University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 23.3% larger than aid received Seattle Pacific University ($31,274 vs. $25,359)

Drake vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Drake University (1224) is 79 points higher than at SPU (1145)
  • Incoming Drake students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at SPU (26)
  • Accepted freshman Drake students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at SPU (3.53)
  • SPU has a higher acceptance rate (90.7%) than Drake (67.2%)

Drake vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Drake is higher than Seattle Pacific University (75% vs. 74%)
  • Graduates from Drake University earn on average $18,100 more per year than SPU graduates after ten years. ($68,500 vs. $50,400)
  • Seattle Pacific University students graduate with a $397 lower median federal student loan debt than Drake graduates. ($25,603 vs. $26,000)
  • SPU graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than Drake graduates. ($264 vs. $268)
  • More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SPU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 82%)

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