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.

Since we review each application for admission individually, there is no single, inflexible set of standards—such as GPA or test score. First-year students are required to complete an online application and submit high school transcripts. In addition, first-year students can choose the Test Score Pathway or Test-Optional Pathway.

• Test Score Pathway- submit ACT or SAT scores
• Test-Optional Pathway - Choice of submitting an application essay OR partipating in an admission interview.

You can visit our Test-Optional FAQs for more details.

Your official high school transcript is required for admission to Drake. 

If you have taken any college classes for credit, you may submit your college transcript as well. The college transcript is not required for an admission decision, but an official transcript is required for transferring credits to Drake. We recommend sending college transcripts upon completion of all credits.

Official transcripts must be sent directly from your school–not from the applicant. In addition, faxed transcripts, scanned documents, and transcripts photocopied without an original seal are not considered official records.

If you are using the Common Application, Drake will accept transcripts sent through the Common Application process. If your school can provide an official electronic transcript, it should be submitted to admission@drake.edu.

Drake University offers both a "Test Score" pathway and a "Test-Optional" application pathway. Drake only requires an official test score from applicants who choose the "Test Score" pathway.

Starting with students applying for either the Spring or Fall 2022 terms, Drake will superscore either the SAT and the ACT. ("Superscore" means that Drake will combine your highest section scores to form a new composite score, even if the section scores are from different test sittings.)

Self-Reported Test Scores:

Drake University accepts self-reported ACT and SAT test scores to meet admission checklist requirements. The scores reported on your application will be used. If admitted, and upon enrollment at Drake, you will be required to submit your official score report for verification.

Submitting official test scores:

There are two ways you can submit an official score to Drake:

1. Request an official copy of your ACT or SAT test scores be sent to the Office of Admission from the appropriate testing agency:

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

-OR-

2.  Test scores are also accepted when included on your official high school transcript*.

*Home school students: Test scores can be submitted for admission on a home-school transcript but an official test score from the testing agency will be required, upon enrollment at Drake, for verification.

Applicants who choose the Test-Optional pathway are required to either submit an essay or schedule an admission interview, in lieu of submitting the ACT or SAT score report.

• If you choose to submit an essay: You may choose any of the essay prompts provided in the Drake application or the Common Application.

• If you choose to complete an 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 Zoom. Interviews are typically about 30 minutes in length and will be a discussion of your high school or college (transfer student) experiences and how they have prepared you for Drake.

You may also reference our Test-Optional policy and FAQs, if needed.

Submitting an essay to Drake is optional. (Those who choose the Test-Optional pathway must  choose between submiting an essay or conducting an admission interview.)

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.

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