Drake University’s pharmacy program and Law School move up in U.S. News rankings

Drake University’s pharmacy program and Law School are ranked among the best for academic quality according to analysis released today in U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.”

In the new rankings, Drake’s pharmacy program, part of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, improved its ranking among private school programs from a fifth-place tie in 2017 to a fourth-place tie. Drake’s score in the rankings increased from 2.9 to 3.2 on a 5-point scale. In the overall rankings, which are dominated by large, public research institutions, Drake improved its ranking from 47th to 46th.

“This improved ranking recognizes our national reputation and the achievements of our talented pharmacy faculty, staff, students, and alumni,” said Renae Chesnut, dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. “This provides further evidence that we are achieving our mission of preparing today’s learners to be tomorrow’s health care leaders.”

In U.S. News’ Best Law Schools rankings, Drake Law School ranked 12th in the nation for legal writing, once again sitting among the top 20 in this category. In the overall ranking, the Law School advanced 17 spots to 105th.

“I am pleased that U.S. News continues to recognize the excellence with which we train our students to communicate effectively and present precise legal analysis—one of the key components of any legal career,” said Jerry Anderson, dean of the Drake Law School. “The real proof of the quality of a Drake Law legal education, however, continues to be found in the success of our more than 6,000 graduates in all 50 states and across the globe.”

According to U.S. News & World Report, these rankings assess both the preparedness of a school’s incoming students and the career or academic outcomes of a school’s graduates. The new rankings complement a set of national accolades which recognize Drake for its exceptional academics, value, and culture. In addition to U.S. News, The University is consistently highly ranked by organizations including Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and The Princeton Review.

Prospective students are invited to learn more about Drake’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Law School, and other programs at www.drake.edu.