Drake University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to Drake or SMUMN?“
Drake University
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between Drake University and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between Drake University and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between Drake University and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| Drake University | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $33,696 | $31,335 |
| Net Price | $27,303 | $20,200 |
| Average Financial Aid | $19,765 | $18,587 |
| Total Undergraduates | 3269 | 1719 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1070 - 1360 | 868 - 1096 |
| Acceptance Rate | 67 | 78 |
| Location | 2507 University Avenue | 700 Terrace Heights |
| City Name | Des Moines | Winona |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Des Moines and Winona. Drake is in a West North Central and SMUMN is in a West North Central - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is Drake University or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then Drake University is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that Drake University is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do Drake Dorms Compare to housing Options at SMUMN?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. Drake charges for on-campus living, while SMUMN charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
Drake and SMUMN student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| Drake University , % | SMUMN,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 79.29 | 58.989999999999995 |
| Hispanic | 3.88 | 5.12 |
| Black | 3.73 | 6.98 |
| Foreign | 7.01 | 2.56 |
| Others | 6.1 | 26.3 |
How different is the Drake University campus compared to Saint Mary's University of Minnesota campus?
The Drake campus is located in Des Moines, IA and is characterized as City: Midsize (population of at least 100,000 but less than 250,000). The SMUMN campus is located in Winona, MN and is characterized as Town: Distant (in urban cluster more than 10 miles and up to 35 miles from an urbanized area).
Which school gives more financial aid?
Drake provides $19,765 whereas SMUMN provides an average of $18,587.
How does Drake academics compare to SMUMN?
When analyzing academics between Drake University and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | Drake | SMUMN |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | 17 | N/A |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | N/A |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | N/A | N/A |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 109 | 9 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 18 | 20 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | 2 |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | N/A | N/A |
| Education | 70 | 30 |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | 2 |
Which is better: Drake University or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between Drake and SMUMN. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does Drake social life compare to SMUMN?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how Drake social life differs from SMUMN.
Check here.
Check here.