Luther College vs Drake University
Luther College and Drake University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Luther College, a private liberal arts college in Decorah, Iowa, boasts a tight-knit community and a focus on undergraduate education. Drake University, a private research university in Des Moines, Iowa, offers a wider range of academic programs and opportunities for graduate study. With Luther College's acceptance rate of 84% and Drake University's acceptance rate of 78%, both institutions welcome a diverse student body. While Luther College's student body is predominantly White (89%), Drake University's student body is more diverse, with 75% White, 10% Black or African American, and 8% Hispanic or Latino. Explore the comparison table below to delve into further details about these institutions, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your college decision.
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![]() Drake University |
![]() Luther College |
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Overview |
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Location | Des Moines, Iowa | Decorah, Iowa |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | Town: Remote |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 84.0% | 84.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Evangelical | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 69.1% | 76.1% |
Application fees | $70 | |
SAT range | 1190 - 1410 | 1088 - 1318 |
ACT range | 25 - 31 | 22 - 29 |
Students submitting SAT score | 14.0% | 8.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 43.0% | 37.0% |
Total number of applicants | 7,932 | 2,495 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,479 | 1,898 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 759 | 444 |
Yield rate | 13.9% | 23.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $62,125 | $61,175 |
Average net price | $29,507 | $25,929 |
Tuition | $45,734 | $46,130 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,160
Meal plan:
$5,128
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Room/dormitory:
$4,870
Meal plan:
$5,490
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $29,904 |
100.0%
Average amount $34,281 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
48.0%
Average amount $5,294 |
69.0%
Average amount $5,292 |
Students taking out private loans |
15.0%
Average amount $18,053 |
13.0%
Average amount $13,652 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,902
Men 39.8% Women 60.2% |
1,744
Men 43.4% Women 56.6% |
Graduate students |
1,973
Men 33.4% Women 66.6% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 68.0% | 70.5% |
International students | 2.9% | 9.9% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 1,758 | 2,156 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Iowa Minnesota Illinois Wisconsin Texas | Minnesota Iowa Wisconsin Illinois California |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 11:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 78.2% | 72.5% |
Dropout rate | 20.2% | 27.4% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
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Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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