Students at Drake University achieve exceptional long-term earnings that place the institution among the top 10% nationally for graduate financial outcomes.
The university delivers consistently strong results across student backgrounds, with particularly impressive earnings performance for low-income graduates who benefit from the same high-quality education and career networks.
Drake University ranks among the top private institutions nationwide for long-term earnings outcomes, placing in the 89th percentile for graduate earnings performance. This Des Moines-based university combines the intimate feel of a medium-sized private college with remarkably strong financial returns that rival much larger research universities. With graduates earning a median of $71,901 ten years after enrollment, Drake delivers outcomes that consistently exceed what students achieve at most comparable private institutions.
What makes Drake distinctive is its ability to channel students into high-earning career paths despite serving a relatively selective student body. About 21% of students receive Pell Grants and 15% are first-generation college students, reflecting moderate access levels typical of private universities. However, those who do attend see exceptional career outcomes, with over 600 graduates earning more than $75,000 annually within ten years of enrollment.
As a private nonprofit university in Iowa, Drake offers the advantages of small classes, strong alumni networks, and personalized career services that help explain why graduates perform so well in the job market. The university's location in Des Moines provides access to major employers in insurance, finance, and business services, while maintaining the affordability advantages of a Midwest location. For families who can manage the higher upfront investment, Drake represents a clear path to strong long-term financial outcomes.
Drake University's program portfolio reflects its strength in business and quantitative fields, with particularly strong outcomes in areas that connect directly to Des Moines' major industries. Actuarial Science leads the way with 53 graduates earning a median of $78,971, leveraging Drake's connections to the insurance industry that has deep roots in Iowa. This program represents Drake's highest aggregate return, combining solid enrollment with exceptional earnings outcomes that reflect the specialized nature of actuarial work.
Digital Marketing emerges as Drake's largest program with 60 graduates, though earnings of $50,439 reflect the broader and more varied career paths available in marketing fields. Mathematics graduates, with 23 students earning around $65,238, demonstrate Drake's strength in quantitative disciplines that prepare students for finance, analytics, and technical roles.
The pattern across Drake's top programs shows a university that has built particular expertise in business and quantitative fields, areas where the Des Moines job market offers strong opportunities and where Drake's alumni networks provide meaningful career advantages. The relatively small program sizes reflect Drake's intimate educational model, where students benefit from close faculty relationships and personalized career guidance that helps explain the consistently strong earnings outcomes across different fields of study.
Drake University graduates achieve exceptionally strong long-term earnings that place the institution in the top tier nationally for financial outcomes. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $71,901, ranking in the 89th percentile among all institutions. This performance reflects Drake's strength in channeling students toward high-earning professional careers, with over 600 graduates earning more than $75,000 annually. The university's loan repayment rate of 88% demonstrates that graduates can comfortably service their educational debt, indicating sustainable earning power that justifies the initial investment.
Actuarial Science stands out as Drake's highest-return program, with 53 graduates earning a median of $78,971 ten years out, generating the strongest aggregate return of any major. Digital Marketing, the university's largest program with 60 graduates, produces median earnings of $50,439, while Mathematics graduates earn around $65,238. This pattern reflects Drake's particular strength in business and quantitative fields, where the university's connections to Des Moines' insurance and financial services sector create direct pathways to well-paying careers.
Drake's location in Des Moines provides graduates with access to major employers in insurance, finance, and business services while benefiting from Iowa's moderate cost of living. This combination allows earnings to stretch further than they might in higher-cost metropolitan areas, enhancing the real purchasing power of Drake graduates' strong nominal earnings.
Drake University requires a significant upfront investment, with net prices that remain elevated across all income levels despite institutional aid efforts. Low-income families pay approximately $27,372 annually, while middle-income families see costs around $26,358, and high-income families pay about $32,993. These figures place Drake in the 17th percentile nationally for affordability, meaning the vast majority of institutions offer lower net prices. The university's private status and comprehensive educational model drive these higher costs, though the investment is designed to pay off through superior long-term outcomes.
Debt levels reflect the higher cost structure but remain within manageable ranges given Drake's strong earnings outcomes. Typical graduates carry about $23,000 in federal student loan debt, while families who choose Parent PLUS loans borrow an average of $25,000. The university maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, indicating that graduates can successfully manage their debt obligations. With median earnings approaching $72,000 ten years out, most borrowers can handle standard repayment schedules comfortably, and the strong loan repayment rate of 88% demonstrates that Drake graduates consistently meet their financial obligations.
Drake University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
