First-Year Application (International)

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

Early Action Priority Applicants will be eligible for the following benefits:

• Priority notification for admission and the Presidential Scholarship
  • Notification between October 15 and January 15
• Priority for housing preferences

March 1 is the regular decision deadline 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 Deadline, with rolling notification of admission, Presidential Scholarship, and financial aid throughout the spring.
• Applications received after the March 1 Regular Decision Deadline will be considered on a space-available basis.

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.

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*Notice to Students in Nigeria: If you are a student applying to Drake University from within Nigeria, you are required to begin your application process through GIEVA, Drake’s admission partner in Nigeria. Please reach out to GIEVA by emailing them at Contact@gieva.org. If you apply directly to Drake without first going through GIEVA, it will significantly delay your admission decision.

If you wish to improve your language proficiency before beginning an academic program at Drake, you may apply for admission to an academic program at the same time that you apply for the Intensive English Program. With the exception of the pre-pharmacy program, Drake offers conditional admission to those applicants who meet the University’s academic requirements, but first need to improve English language skills.

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 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 & 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 and make 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 or International@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 attended high school or another higher education institution in an English-speaking country for at least two years are exempt from providing proof of English proficiency.

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 1 on the English section.
• 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 score 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 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 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:

1. 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.
2. 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?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. 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?
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. 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?
7. 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, they may be emailed to your admission counselor or admission@drake.edu. Make sure your full name and birthday are included with your 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 the Scholarship and Financial Aid Opportunities for International Students for more information.