One price means clarity, certainty, and savings. The full-time tuition price when you walk in the door as a Bulldog in Fall will be the same as when you stride across the graduation stage, bachelor's degree in hand, ready to take on the world.
2026-27 Drake Tuition Guarantee
When looking at tuition costs, it’s important to distinguish between gross tuition (the “sticker price”), which is covered by our tuition guarantee, and net tuition (how much you’ll actually pay). Let’s dive in.
$52,988 — 45-66% = $18-29k
$52,988 is Drake's gross annual tuition for full-time undergraduates (12-18 credits) before factoring in available scholarships and grants. All students receive aid to lower gross costs.
Drake’s net cost of tuition after the Presidential Scholarship ranges from $17,988-$25,988 for freshmen or $23,988-$28,988 for transfers. But this is just the starting point. There are many ways to further lower net cost.
Want a full overview of gross versus net costs? View our cost overview page.
As part of the University’s innovative new plan for tuition pricing, tuition guarantee helps students and families better prepare for college expenses over the course of their education. With the Tuition Guarantee, you will receive an exceptional Drake education at a fixed tuition cost that will not change during your four years at Drake.
What does this mean to you?
Clarity: Your Tuition Cost is Locked
You will receive an exceptional Drake education at a fixed tuition cost that will not change during your four years at Drake. When you plan for educational expenses, you’ll know exactly what tuition will cost throughout your undergraduate experience.
Certainty: No Surprises
Locking in your tuition cost means no surprises. You will know exactly what your tuition will be each year, because that number will not increase.
Savings: Exceptional Education at an Outstanding Value
Drake’s Tuition Guarantee will save you money on the total cost of your education. How much? Most peer institutions raise tuition each year while the value of your scholarships remain the same. With Drake’s Tuition Guarantee, we estimate you’ll save $12,700 over the course of four years.
Note: The Tuition Guarantee is available to undergraduate first-year/transfer students entering in Fall 2027, as well as undergraduate transfer students entering in Spring 2028. The Guarantee does not apply to part-time students or those in graduate/professional programs, but is available to pre-pharmacy students as first-years and sophomores. Please note that the cost of room and board is not fixed and may fluctuate. For the purpose of I-20 issuance, international students will need to prove enough funding to cover the initial-year costs of tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies, personal expenses, and health insurance.