Drake University is proud to welcome 815 newly enrolled associate, bachelor, and transfer students to its Des Moines campus this fall—hailing from 37 U.S. states and 15 countries. These incoming students contribute to a total domestic enrollment of 4,115, including 2,472 undergraduates and 1,643 graduate and professional students.
Key Domestic Growth Areas
- Entering first-year (EFR) bachelor students totaled 673—the highest number since 2022.
- Nineteen associate graduates of John Dee Bright College continued on at Drake to pursue their bachelor’s degree—the highest number since the college’s founding and a 171.4% increase from Fall 2025.
- The College of Arts & Sciences welcomed it’s largest group of newly enrolled undergraduate students since 2022.
- The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences welcomed reached a five-year high in newly enrolled undergraduate students—a 7.4% increase from Fall 2025.
- Zimpleman College of Business welcomed its second largest group of newly enrolled undergraduate students in the last five years.
- The School of Education welcomed its largest group of newly enrolled undergraduates since 2023 and experienced a 23.8% increase from Fall 2025.
- Drake Law School welcomed 157 newly enrolled Juris Doctor and graduate students, bringing its total enrollment to 434—its highest in well over a decade.
- The School of Journalism and Mass Communication experienced significant growth in its new Sports Media and Communication major, which has reached 51 declared majors in only its second year—exceeding projections by a staggering 264%.
“We are proud to welcome a vibrant group of Bulldogs who will harness the power of a Drake education to learn, lead, and make a meaningful impact in their professions and communities,” said Drake University President Marty Martin. “While we are deeply rooted in Des Moines, our commitment to preparing students for responsible global citizenship extends far beyond Iowa. By providing opportunities to earn a Drake degree here at home or abroad, we are strengthening the Bulldog community around the world.”
Expanding Access for Iowans
Drake continues to grow its percentage of in-state enrollment thanks in part to programs offering 100% tuition coverage for qualifying Iowans.
- The Bulldog Promise offers full-tuition coverage for four years to first-time college students seeking a bachelor’s degree who are Iowa residents, have a 3.5 high school GPA or above, and are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant. 100 newly enrolled students in Fall 2026 qualified and are attending Drake tuition-free—up from 59 in Fall 2025 (the program’s first year).
- The Bright College Pathway offers full-tuition coverage for two years to Pell-eligible Iowa residents seeking their associate degree from Bright College. Fifty-nine percent of newly enrolled Bright College students in Fall 2026 qualified for the program and are attending Bright College tuition-free.
Growing Globally
As a globally engaged university, Drake continues to fulfill its mission of preparing students for responsible global citizenship through a growing portfolio of transnational education initiatives that bring Drake degree programs to strategic locations throughout the world.
- QU-Drake United College – In Qingdao, China, students enrolled at QU-Drake United College earn a dual degree from both Drake University and Qingdao University. Drake degree options include bachelor’s degrees in biology and data Analytics. This fall, Drake welcomed 170 first-year students into the program, bringing total enrollment to nearly 500 in the program’s third academic year. These enrollment numbers are in addition to the totals above.
- Drake University Singapore – In Singapore, Drake University offers its Doctor of Education (Ed.D) Leadership program, allowing students to earn a global Doctorate from Drake University while studying on the campus of Nanyang Science and Technology College in Central Singapore. Drake will welcome its first cohort of students into the program in October 2026. First-year enrollment numbers are forthcoming.
- Drake University Panama – In Panama City, Panama, Drake will offer academic programs beginning in Fall 2027 in Drake’s new building on the City of Knowledge campus. Applications are now open for the program, which offers two pathways: an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics with a minor in Artificial Intelligence delivered entirely in Panama, or a traditional “2+2” pathway for students who want to start in Panama and complete their degree in Des Moines.