Drake vs. KU

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

Drake KU
Location Des Moines, IA Lawrence, KS
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 4,685 26,708
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #149 #252
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website drake.edu ku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Drake KU
Tuition (In State) $47,564 $10,092
Tuition (Out of State) $47,564 $26,960
Room & Board $11,570 $10,136
Avg Net Price $30,333 $18,950
Avg Grant Aid $31,274 $11,140
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 87%

Admission

Drake KU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,621 16,204
Admitted 5,796 14,234
Acceptance Rate 67.2% 87.8%
Enrolled % 12.6% 31.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.66
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/30 21/28
SAT Range 1110/1340 1090/1340
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 Aug 15, 2024

Academics

Drake KU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Drake KU
Graduation Rate 75% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,500 $54,600
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $211

Diversity

Drake KU
% Men 37% 45%
% Women 63% 55%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 72%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 7% 6%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Drake KU
% In-State 35% 58%
% Out-of-State 63% 39%

Campus

Drake KU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Kansas is larger than than Drake based on total student enrollment (26,708 students vs. 4,685 students)

Drake vs. KU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drake or KU?

  • Drake University is 371.3% more expensive to attend than KU for in-state tuition ($47,564.00 vs. $10,092.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 76.4% higher at Drake than University of Kansas ($47,564.00 vs. $26,960.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kansas than Drake ($18,950 vs. $30,333)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 14.1% lower than costs at Drake University ($10,136 vs. $11,570)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Drake University than University of Kansas (100% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 180.7% larger than aid received University of Kansas ($31,274 vs. $11,140)

Drake vs. KU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Drake University (1224) is 79 points higher than at KU (1145)
  • Incoming Drake students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at KU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Drake students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at KU (3.66)
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Drake (67.2%)

Drake vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Drake is higher than University of Kansas (75% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from Drake University earn on average $13,900 more per year than KU graduates after ten years. ($68,500 vs. $54,600)
  • University of Kansas students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Drake graduates. ($20,500 vs. $26,000)
  • KU graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Drake graduates. ($211 vs. $268)
  • More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 66%)

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