Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has placed Drake University at No. 36 on its list of the 100 best values in private universities for 2016. The ranking cites four-year schools that combine outstanding education with economic value. For the third consecutive year, Drake University is ranked in the top 40 nationwide and is the only Iowa university on the private universities list.
Drake University and the other schools included in the 2016 value lists represent the colleges that provide high-quality academics at a reasonable cost. The colleges exemplify the attributes parents and students look for in higher education, including faculty accessibility, a strong first-year retention rate, and a high four-year graduation rate. Cost criteria include sticker price, financial aid and average debt at graduation.
“Kiplinger’s rating once again affirms for students, prospective students, and their families, what we have been telling them about Drake’s promise to deliver high quality, affordable education,” said Tom Delahunt, vice president for admission and student financial planning. “Our students graduate on-time, with an exceptional academic experience, prepared for professional success and meaningful personal lives.”
Kiplinger’s full rankings were released online Dec. 16. Rankings will also appear in the February 2016 issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, on newsstands Jan. 5, 2016.
Drake received a great deal of attention for academic quality, value, and return on investment in 2015. The Economist ranked Drake University 17th nationally for return on investment—with alumni earnings that are in the 98th percentile of all four-year, non-vocational private colleges. A report by the nonprofit Brookings Institution found that Drake University adds more than 32 percent to the projected mid-career earnings of demographically similar graduates from institutions with similar characteristics. U.S. News and World Report gave Drake the No. 3 spot on the publication’s 2015 rankings in the category of best Midwest master’s institutions.
Visit www.drake.edu/admission to learn more about Drake’s admission process and academic offerings.