Drake University

What is the accreditation of Drake University?

Drake University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from approval or accreditation of a particular professional program.

Relevant professional distinctions include accreditation of Drake's business programs by AACSB International, its Doctor of Pharmacy program by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, and its law school by the American Bar Association. Applicants to regulated professions should verify the status of their specific program and the licensing rules of the state where they hope to work. HLC accreditation is relevant to institutional eligibility for federal student aid, but it does not guarantee that another college will accept a particular course in transfer or that a graduate will qualify for a professional license.

What are the admission requirements at Drake University?

First-year applicants to Drake generally apply with a completed undergraduate application and an official secondary-school record. The university considers high school GPA and coursework; class rank is not required. Applicants should document high school completion or an accepted equivalency credential before enrolling.

SAT and ACT scores are considered when submitted rather than required for every applicant. Among enrolled students with reported scores, the median composite was 1300 on the SAT and 28 on the ACT; those figures are descriptions of enrolled test-takers, not admission cutoffs. Recommendations and evidence of additional competencies may be considered, but applicants should not treat them as universal requirements. International applicants must also satisfy English-proficiency requirements, and selective or professional programs may ask for additional material.

Drake admitted about 64% of first-time applicants in the reported admissions cycle. That institution-wide rate does not predict an individual decision or establish the selectivity of a particular major. Applicants should use the current admissions instructions for their entry term to confirm deadlines and whether their chosen application route requests an essay or other supplemental items.

What are the application fees and waivers at Drake University?

An applicant should check the fee shown in Drake's current application route before submitting: undergraduate, transfer, graduate, law, and pharmacy applications can follow different processes. An application charge, if one applies to that route, is separate from an enrollment deposit and from tuition.

Applicants for whom a fee would be a barrier should review the application's fee-waiver option and ask Drake Admissions about eligibility before payment. A waiver request may require a counselor's verification or another indication of financial need, depending on the application method. Professional-school applicants should follow their program's own instructions rather than assuming an undergraduate waiver applies to them.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Drake University?

Drake students can explore Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC through arrangements with cooperating host institutions; these are not described as ROTC units operated by Drake on its campus. A prospective participant should confirm the current host, cross-enrollment procedure, class location, and travel schedule with the relevant ROTC detachment before building a semester timetable.

ROTC participation and an ROTC scholarship are separate decisions. Scholarships have branch-specific eligibility and selection rules, while commissioning normally entails a military service commitment. Students should review those terms with the host program and the appropriate military branch before accepting an award.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Drake University?

Drake accepts transfer applicants for fall, spring, and summer entry. Transfer admission and transfer-credit acceptance are separate questions: an applicant may qualify to enroll without every previous course satisfying a Drake degree requirement.

Transfer applicants should prepare official transcripts from each college attended and follow Drake's instructions on secondary-school records when applicable. The number of completed college credits, grades, and intended program can affect which records or prerequisites are evaluated. Before making an enrollment decision, request an official course-by-course transfer-credit evaluation and compare it with the degree audit for the intended major. A course may transfer as elective credit without replacing a required course, and professional programs may impose additional sequence or residency requirements.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Drake University?

Drake offers study-abroad advising and international learning options that can include semester programs and shorter faculty-led experiences. The location, length, academic content, and provider vary by program; a third-party or partner program should not be assumed to operate like a Drake-taught course abroad.

Students should seek academic approval before committing money to travel. In particular, they need to establish how courses will count toward their major, whether prerequisites will remain on schedule, and how grades or credits will appear on the Drake record. The study-abroad office and financial aid office can explain program-specific costs, scholarship possibilities, and whether a student's aid can be used for an approved option. Passport, visa, and health requirements may add time and expense.