Sitting in Iowa's capital city of Des Moines, Drake University punches well above its national profile through strong, distinctive programs in journalism, business, and pharmacy alongside solid liberal arts education. The private institution maintains genuine selectivity with mid-range SAT scores and strong undergraduate focus, attracting ambitious Midwestern students and increasing numbers of out-of-region applicants seeking the Drake value proposition. The beautiful historic campus sits in a pleasant residential neighborhood with walkable access to downtown Des Moines culture, excellent internship opportunities, and a vibrant community that embraces Drake students. The student body reflects genuine geographic and economic diversity, with strong recruitment from metropolitan areas across the Midwest.
Drake's journalism school ranks among the nation's finest, attracting serious student journalists and offering unmatched opportunities for newspaper and broadcast experience through the Drake University campus newspaper and student-run radio and television stations. The business school maintains strong recruiting relationships with regional and national employers, particularly in Iowa's insurance and finance sectors. The pharmacy program (a 5-year PharmD) admits students directly from high school, requiring substantial academic commitment but offering clear professional pathway. These distinctive programs command genuine prestige in their respective fields.
The Drake experience emphasizes community engagement and public service, with strong traditions of student leadership and civic participation. The student body tends toward genuine friendliness and collaborative spirit characteristic of strong Midwestern institutions, without the competitive intensity of elite coastal campuses. Des Moines offers a genuine small city experience—lively enough to feel vibrant, small enough to feel manageable. For students seeking strong education in specific professional fields, meaningful community, and Midwestern values without coastal price tags, Drake represents outstanding value and genuine institutional quality.