Drake University has been named to the Kiplinger’s Personal Finance list of 100 best values in private universities for 2015, coming in at No. 34. Drake is the only private university in Iowa on the list for the second year in a row, and the University’s value ranking improved from No. 37 last year. The ranking cites four-year schools that combine outstanding education with economic value.
Drake University and the other schools included in the 2015 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 small class sizes, a strong first-year retention rate, and a high four-year graduation rate.
“Kiplinger’s rating 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. “We are excited that Kiplinger’s is rating colleges and universities on such an important metric—student outcomes—and empowering families to make more informed decisions during their college search.”
Kiplinger’s rankings measure academic quality and affordability. Academic criteria include the student admission rate (the number of students accepted out of those who apply), the test scores of incoming first-year students, the ratio of students to faculty members, and the four- and five-year graduation rates.
On the affordability side, Kiplinger’s measures the sticker price, the availability and average amount of need-based and merit-based financial aid, and the average student debt at graduation.
Full rankings were released today online. The rankings will also appear in the February 2015 issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, on newsstands January 6, 2015.
Visit www.drake.edu/admission to learn more about Drake’s admission process and academic offerings.