U.S. News & World Report ranks Drake among the nation’s top national universities

Drake University once again ranks among the nation’s top universities in several categories in the newly released U.S. News & World Report 2023 Best Colleges rankings.

Drake ranked in the top third among nearly 450 schools in the “National Universities” category. Institutions within this category offer a full range of undergraduate degrees, plus master’s and doctoral programs. Schools in this list include well-known private and public universities in the Ivy League and major research focused institutions.

“The U.S. News Best Colleges rankings continue to affirm year after year Drake’s standing as a premier university,” said Drake University President Marty Martin. “We are proud of the value we create for our alumni, who form a strong network of Bulldogs making a difference in their own communities, including right here in Iowa.”

In addition to the overall ranking, Drake received honors in several other categories:

  • 65th nationally in “Undergraduate Teaching”
  • 68th nationally in “Most Innovative”
  • 71st nationally on the list of “Best Value Schools”

The U.S. News rankings compare institutions on factors such as academic reputation, graduation rates, student-faculty ratio, class size, student excellence, and financial resources—all areas in which Drake excels. According to the University’s most recent data from 2021:

  • 98.7% of Drake undergraduate students in the class of 2021 were employed or began graduate school within six months of graduation, including 100% of graduates from the School of Education and the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Additionally, 98% of Drake graduate students in the class of 2021 were employed or pursuing additional education within six months of graduation.
  • Of students who began and completed their bachelor’s degree at Drake, 91.1% did so within four years.
  • Drake is No. 1 in Iowa among bachelor-granting institutions for alumni median salary 10 years after enrolling.
  • 100% of Drake full-time undergraduate students receive scholarships.

Prospective students and families are invited to learn more about Drake’s programs and schedule a campus visit at drake.edu/visit.