Drake vs. St John's

Comparable Facts

Compare Drake University in Des Moines, IA with St. John's University New York in Queens, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

St. John's University New York is larger than Drake based on total student enrollment (19,389 students vs. 4,345 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Drake University is located in Des Moines, IA (Midsize City setting); St. John's University New York is in Queens, NY (Large City setting).
• Drake University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St. John's University New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Drake University 11:1; St. John's University New York 16:1.

Drake vs. St John's Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drake or St John's? 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 St John's ($29,565 vs. $29,656).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 39.6% lower than at St. John's University New York ($12,452 vs. $20,600).
• St. John's University New York is 1.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Drake (about $890 more per year; $53,020.00 vs. $52,130.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at St John's than at Drake University (about $890 more per year; $53,020.00 vs. $52,130.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Drake University as at St. John's University New York (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St. John's University New York students is 1.4% larger than aid received by Drake University students ($35,979 vs. $35,498).

Drake vs. St John's Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Drake or St John's? 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 St John's and Drake.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St. John's University New York (1250) is 20 points higher than at Drake (1230).
• Incoming Drake students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 26) as students at St John's (26).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drake University 1110/1350; St. John's University New York 1150/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drake University 24/29; St. John's University New York 24/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drake - Test optional; St John's - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Drake students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at St John's (3.5).
• St John's has a higher acceptance rate (83.4%) than Drake (63.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at Drake vs. 11.6% at St John's.

Drake vs. St John's Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drake and St John's? 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 St. John's University New York's (58%).
• Graduates from Drake University earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than St John's graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,500 vs. $61,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. John's University New York and Drake graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, St. John's University New York and Drake graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($268 vs. $268).
• More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St John's students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 65%)

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.