International Admission

For first-year applicants, official academic records from all secondary schools attended must be submitted, whether or not a diploma was earned. Academic records include yearly secondary school records and certified results from external examinations.

After our initial review, the admission committee may request a credential evaluation.

All documents must be in English. Translated records should be an exact translation (not interpretive) and be accompanied by the official, original-language document.

To expedite your admission process and decision, Drake will accept either an unofficial or official transcript.

• Unofficial transcript(s)--You may send a copy of your high school transcript or a screenshot of your transcript that you can access online. To self-submit your own transcript, you can log into your Application Status Page and upload it directly from your application checklist. Or, you may also email admission@drake.edu a copy of your transcript; make sure your full name and birthdate are in your email. Please note that if you are admitted and decide to enroll at Drake University, we will require that you send us an official, final version of your high school transcript for verification before you can enroll in classes.
• Official Transcript(s)--Your official transcript must be submitted by your school directly by mail or electronically. Your school administrator can send an official transcript via direct upload with your application, or they can email admission@drake.edu an official document. If you are using the Common Application, Drake will accept transcripts sent through the Common Application process. Photocopies, scans, or faxes of academic records submitted by students without a fresh seal or stamp of the school, college, or university attended are not accepted as official. Academic records are not considered to be official if certified by notaries, commissioners of oaths, or translators, regardless of how they are submitted.

Sending documents to Drake:
You can email your official documents to: admission@drake.edu

You can mail your official documents to:
Office of Admission
Drake University
2507 University Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50311-4505 U.S.A.

English proficiency is a requirement to be admitted into a Drake undergraduate program. Students who, within the last two years prior to the start of classes at Drake, attended for two years or more a high school and/or a higher education institution in a country where English is the official language are exempt from providing proof of English proficiency, if the medium of instruction at the high school and/or higher education institution was English.

Students not from an English-speaking country can satisfy the English proficiency requirement using any of the following options:

• TOEFL iBT: Minimum overall score of 71. Drake's TOEFL school code is 6168.
• IELTS: Minimum overall score of 6.0.
• Duolingo English Test: Minimum overall score of 105.
• Pearson Test of English: Minimum overall score of 48.
• SAT: Minimum score of 500 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section. Drake's SAT code is 6168.
• ACT: Minimum score of 19 on the English section. Drake's ACT code is 1302.
• CSAT (South Korea): Minimum score of 2 on the English section.
• International Baccalaureate (IB): A score of 5-7 or grade of A or B on HL English.

• Transfer students with 24 or more semester credits of degree-level coursework completed are not required to submit academic records from secondary school.
• Transfer students with fewer than 24 semester credits of degree-level coursework completed are required to submit academic records from secondary school in addition to submitting ACT or SAT scores or interviewing with an admission counselor.
• All transfer students, regardless of the amount of degree-level coursework completed, are required to submit an official transcript from each postsecondary institution attended.

Original or certified copies of academic records or transcripts in official form, including exam results, must be submitted by the educational institution directly to Drake either by mail or electronically. An admission decision may be reached based on unofficial documents, but the official documents must be submitted by the educational institution prior to attending Drake.

Photocopies, scans, or faxes of academic records submitted by students without a fresh seal or stamp of the school, college, or university attended are not accepted as official. Academic records are not considered to be official if certified by notaries, commissioners of oaths, or translators, regardless of how they are submitted.

After our initial review, the admission committee may request a credential evaluation. All documents must be in English. Translated records should be an exact translation (not interpretive) and be accompanied by the official, original-language document.

Mail records to:
Office of Admission
Drake University
2507 University Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50311-4505 U.S.A.
Electronic records: Admission@drake.edu

English proficiency is a requirement to be admitted into a Drake undergraduate program. Students who, within the last two years prior to the start of classes at Drake, attended for two years or more a high school and/or a higher education institution in a country where English is the official language are exempt from providing proof of English proficiency, if the medium of instruction at the high school and/or higher education institution was English.

Students not from an English-speaking country can satisfy the English proficiency requirement using any of the following options:

• TOEFL iBT: Minimum overall score of 71. Drake's TOEFL school code is 6168.
• IELTS: Minimum overall score of 6.0.
• Duolingo English Test: Minimum overall score of 105.
• Pearson Test of English: Minimum overall score of 48.
• SAT: Minimum score of 500 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section. Drake's SAT code is 6168.
• ACT: Minimum score of 19 on the English section. Drake's ACT code is 1302.
• International Baccalaureate (IB): A score of 5-7 or grade of A or B on HL English.

Drake does not require either the SAT or ACT for admission. However, if you choose to submit scores, Drake will superscore the SAT and/or the ACT. Drake also accepts the CSAT from South Korea as a valid test score for admission.

("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 that 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.

If we believe additional information is required, your admission counselor may contact you to make arrangements to schedule an admission 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.

Drake does not require the submission of an essay for admission. However, if we believe additional information is required, your admission counselor may contact you to request the submission of an essay to supplement your application. In that case, you may choose any of the essay prompts provided in the Common Application.

Common Application Essay Prompt Options:

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Letters of recommendation are not required for admission but can be submitted on your behalf by a teacher or high school counselor. If you choose to submit a letter to supplement your application, it may be emailed by your recommender to admission@drake.edu. Make sure your full name and birthday are included with the submission.

The renewable International Student Grant may offer a partial award toward financial need. This grant, however, will not provide full funding.

Although it may be awarded along with other scholarships, the total combined aid will not exceed 40% of the total cost of attendance.

A link to the grant application process is provided within your Drake admission application.
Please view Scholarship and Financial Aid Opportunities for International Students for more information.