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Des Moines, IA · Iowa City, IA
| Drake University | University of Iowa | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $29,127/yr | $22,531/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $25,824/yr | $15,316/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $23,000 | $22,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $23,275/yr | $15,489/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $25,171/yr | $19,930/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $27,408/yr | $23,811/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $33,126/yr | $26,266/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $244/mo | $239/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $12,452/yr | $12,920/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $10,701/yr | $12,920/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $510/yr | $950/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,150/yr | $4,066/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $64,835/yr | $28,596/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $52,130/yr | $11,283/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $52,130/yr | $33,371/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 22% | 18% |
| Students taking federal loans | 44% | 42% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 64% | 84% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1110–1350 | 1130–1330 |
| SAT average | 1292 | 1200 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 24–29 | 21–28 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 22–30 · Math 22–28 | English 20–28 · Math 19–27 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 7,741 | 25,682 |
| Students accepted | 4,964 | 21,746 |
| Students who enrolled | 639 | 5,064 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 13% | 23% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 8% | 19% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 31% | 59% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 74% | 75% |
| Freshmen who come back | 84% | 90% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $71,901/yr | $64,762/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $47,785–$110,436 | $44,345–$93,325 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 77% | 73% |
| White students graduating | 79% | 75% |
| Black students graduating | 45% | 64% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 69% | 71% |
| Asian students graduating | 65% | 74% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $58,233/yr | $52,696/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 87% | 84% |
| Graduate on time | 66% | 58% |
| Pell students who graduate | 61% | 65% |
| First-gen students who finish | 43% | 61% |
| Low-income students who finish | 47% | 55% |
| Students who transfer out | No data reported | 17% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $68,149/yr | $60,321/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 22% · Communication & Journalism 10% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 8% | Business, Management & Marketing 24% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 10% · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 10% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 22% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 24% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Communication & Journalism — 10% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 10% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 8% of degrees | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Health Professions — 8% of degrees | Health Professions — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Social Sciences — 8% of degrees | Social Sciences — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $91,098/yr | Dentistry — $138,670/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 16% | 17% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,543 | 22,264 |
| Students per professor | 11 : 1 | 16 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,760 | 8,041 |
| Average professor pay | $10,431/mo | $12,922/mo |
| Full-time professors | 72% | 88% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $89,603 | $72,993 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | City (small) |
| Location | Des Moines, IA | Iowa City, IA |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1881 | 1847 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral/Professional Universities | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 4.2% | 1.3% |
| Men | 39% | 43% |
| Women | 61% | 57% |
| White students | 68% | 74% |
| Black students | 7.8% | 2.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 9.5% | 8.9% |
| Asian students | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Two or more races | 5.4% | 3.9% |
| Other / not reported | 0.4% | 4.4% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 15% | 22% |
| Part-time students | 2.2% | 5% |
| Students age 25+ | 3.3% | 5% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $13,803/yr | $15,714/yr |
| Endowment | $306.2M | $3.5B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,758 | 6,553 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,470/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan charge | $5,388/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 20 meals/week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | Yes |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | Yes | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FCS | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 14 | 18 |
| Student athletes | 387 | 677 |
| Athletic scholarships | $5.0M | $17.2M |
| Athletics budget | $21.3M | $150.9M |
| Athletics revenue | $21.3M | $180.0M |
| Recruiting spend | $217,012 | $2.3M |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.