First-Year Application

December 1 is the Early Action Priority Deadline for all programs.

Early Action Priority Applicants are eligible for the following:

• Priority notification for admission and the Presidential Scholarship
  • Rolling between October 15-January 15
• Priority for housing preferences
• Early notification of financial aid package by February 1.

March 1 is the regular decision to submit your application and supporting materials for all programs.

• Applications received after the December 1 Early Action Priority Deadline will be considered until the March 1 Regular Decision, with rolling notification of admission, Presidential Scholarship, and financial aid throughout the spring.
• Applications received after the March 1 Regular Decision will be considered on a space-available basis.

We send admission decisions through the mail. Applicants for all undergraduate majors will be notified of an admission decision on a rolling basis beginning in October. Notification after this date typically take 2-5 weeks after your file becomes complete.

Complete one of the following:

• Drake University Application
• Common Application, including the Common Application Member Questions specific to Drake University

Choose either method to apply. Both options are given equal consideration for admission. There is no application fee when applying online.

Your academic transcript is required for admission to Drake. Send your official high school transcript for review; if you have taken any college classes for credit, submit your college transcript as well. If you are using the Common Application, Drake will accept transcripts sent through the Common Application process. Faxed transcripts, scanned documents, and transcripts photocopied without an original seal are not considered official records.

If your school can provide an official electronic transcript, it should be submitted to admission@drake.edu.

Request an official copy of your ACT or SAT test scores be sent to the Office of Admission from the appropriate testing agency (required for home schooled students).  Complete test scores are also accepted when included on your official high school transcript.  

The writing section of the ACT or SAT is not required, and is not considered as part of your application.

• Drake University ACT school code: 1302
• Drake University SAT school code: 6168

Eligible applicants who choose the Test-Flexible option are required to schedule an interview in lieu of the ACT or SAT score report. Please refer to the Test Flexible policy and FAQs for more information about eligibility and the admission interview.

Your admission counselor will contact you to make arrangements to schedule your interview, after your application is complete. Interviews may be conducted in person or through Skype or Facetime.

Submitting an essay to Drake is optional, but recommended. If you choose to submit an essay, you must use one of the essay prompts provided in the Drake Application or Common Application. Please do not submit a paper you wrote for a school assignment; the admission committee would rather read something more personal.

A recommendation, while not required, is strongly encouraged. Letters of recommendation can be submitted on your behalf by a teacher or high school counselor. You may also have a counselor complete the High School Report & Counselor Recommendation supplement form.

Music

In order to be admitted to the Department of Music, and to be considered for scholarship awards as a Music major, Music minor, or non-major participant, prospective students are required to audition with Drake Music faculty. To learn more about upcoming Department of Music audition dates and audition requirements, visit the Department of Music Audition Information page.

Theatre

In order to be admitted to any of the B.F.A. Theatre Arts degree programs or the Musical Theatre minor, and to be considered for a Departmental Fine Arts scholarship award, prospective students are required to audition/present their portfolio either on campus at the Drake Theatre Audition Day or the National Unified Theatre Auditions. To learn more about upcoming Theatre audition dates and audition requirements, visit the Theatre Arts Off Campus and On Campus Auditions page.

Important Admission Dates