Drake University

What is the history of Drake University?

Drake University is a private university founded in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1881. It was named for Francis Marion Drake, a former Iowa governor and an early supporter of the institution. Its founding president, George T. Carpenter, helped establish a university intended to offer broad educational opportunities rather than training in a single profession.

Drake developed into an institution with undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, including law, education, business, journalism, and pharmacy. Its history is also tied to the Drake Relays, a track-and-field meet first held in 1910 that remains one of the university's most recognizable annual events. Although Drake has historical ties to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), it operates as an independent university rather than requiring a religious affiliation from students.

What are the faculties and departments at Drake University?

Drake organizes its academics across the College of Arts and Sciences, Zimpleman College of Business, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, School of Education, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and Law School. Applicants should choose programs by credential as well as subject: a bachelor's major, a graduate degree, a law degree, and a pharmacy pathway have different admission and progression requirements.

Undergraduates can study fields such as biology, psychology, computer science, accounting, finance, journalism, public relations, and teacher education. The professional schools add options that are not interchangeable with similarly named undergraduate majors; for example, studying a health-related subject does not itself confer pharmacist licensure. Drake's academic catalog is the place to check a particular major's required courses, prerequisites, and available degree level before applying.

What is the location of Drake University?

Drake's main campus is in Des Moines, Iowa's capital and largest city. Its urban location puts students near state government, employers, arts venues, and community organizations, which may matter when arranging internships or field experiences. Those opportunities still depend on the student's program and the positions available.

The campus is in a city neighborhood rather than a self-contained rural setting. Students comparing housing or internships should account for local transportation and travel time; first-year students are permitted to register or park a car on campus, but parking rules and charges should be checked separately. Des Moines International Airport is the nearest major airport and is useful for students traveling farther than the region's ground transportation readily serves.

What is the mission and vision of Drake University?

Drake states that its mission is to provide a learning environment that prepares students for meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship. This is the university's statement of educational purpose, not a measured outcome for every student.

That mission helps explain the combination of liberal-arts study and professional programs in Drake's academic structure. Applicants can assess how it applies to their intended degree by examining general-education requirements, experiential opportunities, and the curriculum of a specific school. Drake's historical religious association is part of its institutional background, but the university does not present admission as dependent on religious identity.