Washburn U vs Drake University

Washburn University and Drake University, both located in the vibrant state of Iowa, offer distinct educational experiences for prospective students. Washburn University, rooted in Topeka, boasts an acceptance rate of 88%, welcoming a diverse student body of over 7,000 undergraduates. Drake University, nestled in Des Moines, maintains a more selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 75%, fostering a close-knit community of approximately 3,000 undergraduates. While both universities excel in various academic disciplines, Washburn University is renowned for its strong programs in nursing, business, and education, while Drake University shines in fields such as law, pharmacy, and journalism. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these institutions, including graduation rates, student demographics, and popular majors, to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
Drake University logo

Drake University

Washburn University logo

Washburn University

Overview

Location Des Moines, Iowa Topeka, Kansas
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 84.0% 66.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 69.1% Open Admission
Application fees $70
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $40
SAT range 1190 - 1410 N/A
ACT range 25 - 31 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 14.0%
Students submitting ACT score 43.0%
Total number of applicants 7,932
Total number of admissions given out 5,479
Admitted students who chose to enroll 759
Yield rate 13.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A
High school GPA Required N/A
Recommendation letters Not required N/A
High school transcript Not required N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $62,125
In state: $23,895

Out of state: $34,899
Average net price $29,507 $14,617
Tuition $45,734
In state: $8,762

Out of state: $19,766
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,160

Meal plan: $5,128
Room/dormitory: $5,625

Meal plan: $4,090
Available payment plans
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $29,904
94.0%
Average amount $6,254
Students receiving federal student loan 48.0%
Average amount $5,294
44.0%
Average amount $5,166
Students taking out private loans 15.0%
Average amount $18,053
5.0%
Average amount $10,179

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,902
Men 39.8% Women 60.2%
4,828
Men 37.3% Women 62.7%
Graduate students 1,973
Men 33.4% Women 66.6%
829
Men 33.4% Women 66.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 68.0% 3.0%
International students 2.9% 3.0%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 1,758 1,004
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 Kansas Georgia Iowa Florida Arizona

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Legal Profession
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Health Professions
  • Legal Profession
  • Liberal Arts
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 78.2% 51.4%
Dropout rate 20.2% 24.7%
Transferred out N/A 20.7%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $113,335
  • Year 3: $126,268
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $93,514
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,552
  • Year 2: $78,971
  • Year 3: $92,797
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $65,238
  • Year 3: $80,038
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,587
  • Year 2: $71,255
  • Year 3: $78,000
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,903
  • Year 2: $62,409
  • Year 3: $72,353
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,700
  • Year 2: $57,705
  • Year 3: $71,750
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,167
  • Year 2: $60,623
  • Year 3: $70,579
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,063
  • Year 2: $59,485
  • Year 3: $67,788
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,460
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $65,013
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,212
  • Year 2: $99,069
  • Year 3: $105,785
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $50,713
  • Year 2: $56,776
  • Year 3: $59,264
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,996
  • Year 2: $52,542
  • Year 3: $57,844
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,332
  • Year 2: $54,812
  • Year 3: $57,071
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,896
  • Year 2: $44,595
  • Year 3: $54,443
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,833
  • Year 2: $50,270
  • Year 3: $53,824
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $43,016
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $53,722
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,602
  • Year 2: $50,856
  • Year 3: $53,311
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,645
  • Year 2: $46,790
  • Year 3: $50,604
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,551
  • Year 2: $45,128
  • Year 3: $50,230

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