Application Deadlines
Most graduate programs in the College of Business and Public Administration and the School of Education normally do not have set deadlines. We do request, however, that application materials be submitted at least three months before the term for which you applied begins. Exceptions to this are:
For the College of Business and Public Administration: It is recommended that applicants provide materials for admission review three months prior to the term in which they wish to enroll. To guarantee admission review for the semester indicated, completed applications and all supporting documents should be submitted no later than the following dates:
Fall Admission July 15
Spring Admission December 1
Summer Admission April 15
Applications received after these dates will be reviewed on a space available basis only. Individuals with international credentials are encouraged to provide materials earlier than these dates in order to allow sufficient time for visa approval and degree verifications.
Master of Science in Counseling Program applicants must submit all application materials by March 1 to be considered for admission to the fall term or September 1 to be considered for admission to the spring term. The Counseling Program will contact eligible applicants to set up admission interviews after these deadlines.
Doctor of Education applications will be accepted from October 1 of odd numbered years to January 15 of even numbered years. The doctoral program begins fall term of even numbered years.
The Master of Communication Leadership accepts applications for the fall term only. The deadline is July 1.
School of Education applicants (very important; please read carefully):
In order to ensure that you receive an admission decision for a specific term and are eligible for financial aid in that term (if you have completed the FAFSA and are seeking financial aid), Drake’s policy requires that you be admitted at least one month prior to the end of the academic term to which you seek admission. Please remember that once you have provided all of the necessary documents to complete your file, it must still be evaluated and sent to the department for their review and recommendation. Because this process can take several weeks, you should plan to have a complete file at least three months prior to the end of the term. If you are not admitted at least one month before the term ends, you will not be eligible for financial aid for that term and your application will be updated to the next available term.
Each term we have students who wait until the last minute to complete their files, not understanding that completing the file does not mean an admission decision is made on the spot. As stated previously, the file must still be sent to the department for their review and recommendation. That recommendation must then be returned to the Office of Graduate Admission for final approval and notification to the student.
We process applications as quickly as possible, but please help us help you by completing the application process well ahead of the beginning of the term in which you plan to begin your program, or very early in the term to which you seek admission. If you are applying for the summer term, it is even more critical to apply early because the terms are very short and a different time frame exists. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Please check with the Law School and College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences for application deadlines.
