Drake University Acceptance Rate
Des Moines, Iowa · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 7,741
- Admitted
- 4,964
- Yield
- 12.9%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Drake University's acceptance rate has fallen from 69.3% in 2014–15 to 64.1% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 6,476 to 7,741 (+20%) over that period.
Its 64.1% rate makes Drake University more selective than about 70% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 26 tracked Iowa schools, it is more selective than about 88%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (71.3% for women vs 58.9% for men, a 12.4-point gap). Drake University has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 12.9% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 6,476 | 4,485 | 69.3% | 870 |
| 2015–16 | 6,514 | 4,356 | 66.9% | 803 |
| 2016–17 | 4,959 | 3,419 | 68.9% | 769 |
| 2017–18 | 5,574 | 3,835 | 68.8% | 761 |
| 2018–19 | 6,886 | 4,659 | 67.7% | 750 |
| 2019–20 | 6,944 | 4,697 | 67.6% | 782 |
| 2020–21 | 6,624 | 4,499 | 67.9% | 738 |
| 2021–22 | 7,932 | 5,479 | 69.1% | 759 |
| 2022–23 | 8,621 | 5,796 | 67.2% | 733 |
| 2023–24 | 7,741 | 4,964 | 64.1% | 639 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 4,026 | 2,872 | 71.3% |
| Men | 3,553 | 2,092 | 58.9% |
| Unknown | 162 | 0 | 0% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 610–690 | 8% |
| SAT Math | 580–700 | |
| ACT Composite | 24–30 | 31% |
How Drake University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Drake University's acceptance rate?
Drake University's acceptance rate is 64.1% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (4,964 admitted of 7,741 applicants).
Is Drake University test optional?
Drake University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Drake University?
Drake University received 7,741 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 4,964.
What SAT score do you need for Drake University?
Admitted students at Drake University typically scored 610–690 on SAT Reading/Writing and 580–700 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Drake University getting harder to get into?
Drake University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 69.3% in 2014–15 to 64.1% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.drake.edu/.