Actuarial Science

Actuarial Science Department Website

“Being one of the Centers for Actuarial Excellence, Drake gave me the resources to really explore the actuarial industry and gain an understanding of what exactly I wanted to be when I graduated.”
—Lily Hull, Junior, Zimpleman College of Business graduate

A REWARDING CAREER

As a Drake graduate with a degree in actuarial science, you’ll enter a specialized career field ranked among the highest in the United States for job satisfaction, opportunities for advancement, and starting salary.

How much should a company charge an individual for car insurance? How much should a business set aside to cover potential liabilities resulting from risks they cover? You’ll learn to use probability, statistics, and data analysis to answer these questions and make important strategic decisions for your organization.

MAJOR OPTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

This major is open to any student meeting the prerequisites for the courses. For a comprehensive list of courses required for Actuarial Science offered by the Zimpleman College of Business, visit this page.

UNIVERSITY EARNED CREDIT (UEC)

For several classes listed at the link above (specifically, Actuarial Science 120, 140, 150, and 161), students can now earn professional (UEC) exam credit by doing well enough in the classes at Drake (to be exempt then from having to take the corresponding professional actuarial exam). Drake is one of only 13 schools in the U.S. to participate in this UEC program.

PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION

Drake has one of the best actuarial science programs in the nation and is one of the few private programs in the Midwest with a full set of courses taught by actuaries. You will learn from some of the highest caliber faculty, receive an outstanding education, pass some professional actuarial exams along the way, receive multiple actuarial internships both during summer and throughout the school year, and graduate prepared to start your career.

Drake is one of only 20 universities in the country, and 37 in the world, to be recognized as a Center for Actuarial Excellence (CAE) by the Society of Actuaries.

DIVERSE JOB PROSPECTS

Corporations from across the nation regularly recruit Drake students and recent graduates for internships and full-time jobs. Actuarial students have held prestigious internships at places such as Allstate, American Republic, Athene, CIGNA, Farm Bureau, GuideOne, Lincoln Financial Group, Nationwide, Northwestern Mutual, Mutual of Omaha, The Principal Financial Group, Travelers, Wellmark, and many other locations.

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Of course, you’ll benefit from the experiences that all Drake Bulldogs enjoy – advising and mentorship from professors at the top of their field, resume-worthy internships and other professional preparation (resume writing, interview and communication skills, etc.); research experiences both in and out of the classroom, opportunities to learn while serving the community, and January Term experiences that immerse you into various specialized topics and locations of your choosing.

FIND OUT MORE

We love talking about the great things happening at Drake, but nothing beats a visit to campus. Let us know you're coming, and we'll arrange for you to meet professors, sit in on a class, or just hang out with current students.

For more information about the Actuarial Science program, contact:

Zimpleman College of Business
Office of Student Achievement
zimpleman.undergrad@drake.edu
515-271-3142

Actuarial Science Department Website

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