First Year Students (Domestic)
First Year Students (International)
Transfer Students (International)
Part-Time Undergraduate Students
Scholarships and Financial Aid
High School Students and the Post Secondary Enrollment Option
Prospective students are invited to explore the educational opportunities at Drake University by scheduling a campus visit. During a weekday individual campus visit, students can meet with an admission counselor and tour the campus with a Drake student. Faculty appointments and additional meetings may also be requested when scheduling a campus visit no later than one week prior to the preferred date of the visit.
In addition to individual visits, students are welcome to attend one of Drake’s group visit programs which are designed to showcase the academic and extracurricular experience at Drake through interactions with Drake faculty, staff and students. The visit programs include sessions that cover academic offerings, admission process and criteria, campus environment, extracurricular options and financial assistance programs. In addition, students tour the campus with a Drake student and have an opportunity to meet many members of the Drake community. These programs are held on specified dates, which are listed on the Office of Admission web site.
To schedule a visit or register to attend a specific visit program, please contact Drake’s Office of Admission or visit the Office of Admission web site.
The admission of high school seniors is contingent upon successful completion of graduation requirements with grades comparable to those upon which the admission decision was based. After graduation, students must provide final, official transcripts showing graduation date, final semester course grades and final rank in class, if applicable. Failure to provide all necessary documents may result in the cancellation of admission or registration. It also precludes the release of a Drake transcript.
Drake University reviews applications in an individualized, holistic manner and considers all aspects of an applicant’s file including but not limited to grade point average (GPA), courses completed, grade trend, test scores (if submitted), and other supporting documents. There is no single, inflexible set of admission criteria such as a minimum grade point average (G.P.A.) or minimum test score.
Drake recognizes that performance on a standardized test like the ACT or SAT may not accurately represent an applicant’s admission qualifications, therefore, the University has adopted a test-optional admission process. As a test-optional institution, applicants can decide if they want their ACT/SAT scores used in the evaluation of their application for admission. Applicants will be fully considered for merit scholarships regardless of their choice to include or exclude ACT/SAT scores.
The following deadlines apply to all first-year students:
Early Action Priority Applicants are eligible for priority notification for admission and scholarship, priority for housing preferences, and early notification of their financial aid package.
All first-year students must submit the following materials.
For first-year students that have earned college credit while still in high school, the college transcript is not required for an admission decision, but an official transcript is required for transferring credits Drake. We recommend sending college transcripts upon completion of all credits if seeking transfer credit.
College-level coursework earned at other institutions will be evaluated and may be applied to students’ Drake record accordingly. See the Transfer of Credit area of the catalog for more details, including information on how AP, IB, CLEP exams and other transfer credit may equate to Drake courses.
Drake University is authorized by federal law to enroll non-immigrant students and exchange visitors. International students are required to submit proof of financial resources before an I-20 or DS-2019 is issued respectively for the F-1 or J-1 visa.
Drake University reviews applications in an individualized, holistic manner and considers all aspects of an applicant’s file including but not limited to grade point average (GPA), courses completed, grade trend, test scores (if submitted), and other supporting documents. There is no single, inflexible set of admission criteria such as a minimum grade point average (G.P.A.) or minimum test score.
Drake recognizes that performance on a standardized test like the ACT or SAT may not accurately represent an applicant’s admission qualifications, therefore, the University has adopted a test-optional admission process. As a test-optional institution, applicants can decide if they want their ACT/SAT scores used in the evaluation of their application for admission. Applicants will be fully considered for merit scholarships regardless of their choice to include or exclude ACT/SAT scores.
The following deadlines apply to all first-year students:
Early Action Priority Applicants are eligible for priority notification of admission and scholarship, priority for housing preferences, and early notification of their financial aid package.
All first-year students must submit the following materials:
Note that while self-reported transcripts and other academic credentials are acceptable for admission purposes, admitted students who enroll at Drake will be required to provide official transcripts and other academic credentials before they will be permitted to register for classes. “Official” for purposes of this section means that they were submitted to Drake directly from the institution.
Students who have sat for the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level Examinations can be awarded six to eight hours of credit per subject passed at the Advanced Level with a qualifying grade. Credit is also awarded for the German Abitur, French Baccalaureate, and selected other national examinations. Applicants who have completed the full International Baccalaureate diploma program are eligible for approximately one year of advanced-standing credit. Credit for both higher and standard levels is awarded through a course-by-course evaluation. For more information, see the AP, IB, CLEP Credit section of the catalog.
Other college-level coursework earned at other institutions will be evaluated and may be applied to students’ Drake record accordingly. See the Transfer of Credit area of the catalog for more details, including information on how AP, IB, CLEP exams and other transfer credit may equate to Drake courses.
Drake welcomes transfer students from two and four-year institutions. Consideration for admission is given to transfer applicants with a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, for all college work attempted at an accredited institution. However, a 2.5 minimum CGPA is recommended for admission.
Transfer applicants suspended for academic or other reasons at another institution, or otherwise not in good standing, are not eligible for admission consideration, or enrollment in Drake University for one year following the imposition of the suspension. Transfer applicants must be in good academic standing at the last institution attended.
Prior to enrollment, transfer applicants must request that each postsecondary institution previously attended send an official transcript of all work attempted. The official transcripts must bear the official seal and signature of the official in charge of records by each college or university previously attended and must be sent directly to Drake’s Office of Admission electronically to admission@drake.edu or by mail to Drake University Office of Admission 2507 University Ave Des Moines IA 50311. Transcripts that have been in the student’s possession are not considered official documents.
An official transcript from any foreign post-secondary institution is required to cover any period that a transfer student studied there. In appropriate cases, an English translation must be provided.
Attendance at each institution must be reported whether credit was earned and regardless of the applicant’s preference. Failure to report all previous academic work is considered sufficient cause for rejection of an application or cancellation of admission or registration. It also may preclude the later release of a Drake transcript.
Transfer students applying to undergraduate programs other than the Doctor of Pharmacy program should abide by the following deadlines:
Applications received after the priority dates will be reviewed on an individual and rolling basis.
Transfer students applying to the Doctor of Pharmacy program should abide by the following deadlines:
All transfer students applying to undergraduate programs must submit an online application and official transcripts.
College-level coursework earned at other institutions will be evaluated and may be applied to students’ Drake record accordingly.
Admitted students who have met the criteria outlined below will enter Drake University having fulfilled the Drake Curriculum general education requirements (Areas of Inquiry), with the exception of the Senior Capstone requirement in the student's major(s) area of study. Students within one year of high school graduation are required to complete a First Year Seminar.
Criteria
Students are required to submit a final transcript with proof of their degree prior to the beginning of their second term (excluding summer or J-term) of enrollment. Students who fail to provide the appropriate documentation will be required to complete the general education requirements.
Students who do not meet the criteria above will have their credits evaluated on a course-by-course basis.
See https://www.drake.edu/registrar/transfercreditinformation/ for more details, including information on how AP, IB, CLEP exams and other transfer credit may equate to Drake courses.
Drake University is authorized by federal law to enroll non-immigrant students and exchange visitors. International students are required to submit proof of financial resources before an I-20 or DS-2019 is issued respectively for the F-1 or J-1 visa.
Transfer students applying to undergraduate programs other than the Doctor of Pharmacy program should abide by the following deadlines:
Applications received after the priority dates will be reviewed on an individual and rolling basis.
Transfer students applying to the Doctor of Pharmacy program should abide by the following deadlines:
Note that while self-reported transcripts and other academic credentials are acceptable for admission purposes, admitted students who enroll at Drake will be required to provide official transcripts and other academic credentials before they will be permitted to register for classes. “Official” for purposes of this section means that they were submitted to Drake directly from the institution.
College-level coursework earned at other institutions will be evaluated and may be applied to students’ Drake record accordingly.
Admitted students who have met the criteria outlined below will enter Drake University having fulfilled the Drake Curriculum general education requirements (Areas of Inquiry), with the exception of the Senior Capstone requirement in the student's major(s) area of study. Students within one year of high school graduation are required to complete a First Year Seminar.
Criteria
Students are required to submit a final transcript with proof of their degree prior to the beginning of their second term (excluding summer or J-term) of enrollment. Students who fail to provide the appropriate documentation will be required to complete the general education requirements.
Students who do not meet the criteria above will have their credits evaluated on a course-by-course basis.
See https://www.drake.edu/registrar/transfercreditinformation/ for more details, including information on how AP, IB, CLEP exams and other transfer credit may equate to Drake courses
A student enrolled in less than 12 credit hours of coursework during any fall or spring semester is considered a part-time student.
Part-time degree applicants are required to meet the same standards for admission as full-time applicants.
First-year applicants, including first-year pre-pharmacy, eligible to compete for the National Alumni Scholarships must submit the separate scholarship online application and all other required admission application documents by the December 1 postmark deadline.
Full-time students must live in a Drake residence hall during any period of University enrollment within two years following high school graduation. Exceptions include individuals who are married or live within a 45-mile radius of Drake University with their parent(s)/legal guardian and have completed the Commuter Application, and received, written approval from the Office of Residence Life to live off campus as a commuter student. https://www.drake.edu/residencelife/informationfornewfirstyeartransferstudents/
Students interested in taking courses for academic credit but who is not seeking a degree may be eligible to enroll as a non-degree-seeking student. Students who have been denied admission to Drake are not eligible to enroll without the permission of the Dean of Admission.
Non-degree-seeking students are required to complete the Non-Degree Seeking Student Registration Request Form available at the Office of the Registrar. Students who regularly attend other colleges or universities and register at Drake University for the purpose of earning credit to transfer to their home institution are encouraged to seek course-by-course approval from their home institutions prior to registering for specific courses at Drake.
Non-degree-seeking students are held to the same probation and suspension standards as degree-seeking students.
Non-degree-seeking students may not enroll in more than nine credit hours per semester. Students seeking an exemption from this policy must request permission from the Dean of Admission.
Once 24 credit hours have been accumulated, the student will be contacted concerning his/her academic goals, past performance, and intent to seek admission for earning a degree. If the student does not intend to pursue a degree, he/she may continue as a non-degree-seeking student.
Non-degree-seeking students who want to become degree-seeking candidates must submit the application for admission and official transcripts of all courses attempted for all terms at all postsecondary institutions attended. Credits earned as a non-degree-seeking student may or may not apply toward a degree program. Applicants are required to meet the same standards for admission as transfer students. The Office of Admission coordinates the transcript evaluation process with the respective colleges and schools. The dean’s office of the appropriate college or school decides how each course accepted applies toward Drake’s degree requirements.
Drake University provides students who are currently enrolled in high school and desire the challenge of academic study above and beyond what is available in the high school curriculum to investigate the opportunity of dual enrollment.
To qualify, high school students must be in their junior or senior year, provide a copy of their high school transcript, rank in the top one-third of their classes, and have scored a minimum composite of 115 on the PSAT, 1150 (critical reading and math only) on the SAT, 25 on the ACT PLAN, or 25 on the ACT.
Applicants must complete a Post Secondary Enrollment application, which is available in the Office of Admission or at their high schools, and receive approval from their school counselor. Enrollment in requested courses is subject to course availability.
Qualified students may enroll in a maximum of two courses at Drake University during the fall and spring semesters and one course per summer session as high school students while completing their remaining high school graduation requirements. Students may qualify for financial assistance under the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Act.
The information in this catalog does not constitute a contract between the university and the student. The university reserves the right to make changes in curricula, admission policies and processes, tuition and financial aid, academic standards and guidelines, student services and any other regulations or policies set forth in this catalog without giving prior notice.