Drake University Law School: The Capital-City Advantage
Drake University Law School is a private law school in Des Moines, the only law school in Iowa’s capital city, and it ranks around #84 in U.S. News. It admits about 54.8% of applicants, with a median LSAT of 156 and a median GPA of 3.67. Its signature advantage is location: students get hands-on access to all three branches of state government, the federal courts, and state agencies, all within one city. Founded in 1865, Drake is a practice-focused, public-service-minded school with strong value, roughly 85% of students receive grant aid, and about 90% pass the bar on the first try.
What is Drake University Law School known for?
Drake is known, above all, for being the only law school in Iowa’s capital city. That location is not a footnote; it is the school’s defining advantage. Within a few blocks, students can work alongside the Iowa Supreme Court, the legislature, the governor’s office, the federal courthouse, and state and federal agencies.
That access feeds a practice-first culture. Founded in 1865 as one of the 25 oldest law schools in the country, Drake has built its reputation on training “proven practitioners,” with a low 11:1 student-faculty ratio and its own working courtroom on campus.
The 1L Trial Practicum
Drake’s signature program is the first-year Trial Practicum, described by the school as the only program of its kind in the country. During the spring semester, every first-year student observes a real state-court trial from jury selection to verdict, then debriefs with the actual judges, attorneys, and jurors. It puts courtroom practice into the first year, where most schools keep it theoretical.
Constitutional law, agricultural law, and public service
Drake houses a constitutional law center that is one of only four established by an act of Congress, a natural draw for students aiming at constitutional and appellate work. Its Agricultural Law Center is one of the few in the nation, fitting for a school in the heart of farm country. Public service runs deep too, through dedicated certificates and a full-tuition Public Service Scholarship program.
Drake Law School acceptance rate, LSAT, and GPA
Drake’s acceptance rate is about 54.8% for the 2025 cycle, with 432 offers from 788 applications into a first-year class of roughly 141. That makes it moderately selective, more attainable than the national-tier schools while still expecting solid numbers.
| Drake metric (2025 ABA 509) | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSAT | 153 | 156 | 159 |
| Undergraduate GPA | 3.27 | 3.67 | 3.78 |
An applicant at or above a 156 LSAT and a 3.67 GPA is competitive, and the wider GPA band (starting at 3.27) signals that Drake reads holistically, weighing writing, recommendations, leadership, and work experience alongside the numbers. Run your odds through our law school admission predictor, and see our LSAT score guide if you are aiming to lift your number.
Drake Law School ranking
Drake ranks around #84 in the U.S. News Best Law Schools list, placing it in the solid regional tier rather than the national one. Rankings shift year to year, so treat the exact number as a snapshot.
What the rank reflects is Drake’s identity: a strong regional school whose value lies in placement and practice across Iowa and the Midwest, not in national BigLaw recruiting. For how it sits among its neighbors, see our guide to Iowa law schools and the national law school rankings.
Drake Law bar passage and employment outcomes
Drake’s results are strong where it counts for a regional school. The first-time bar passage rate is about 90%, well above the Iowa state average of roughly 82%, and around 95% of graduates were employed within ten months.
The honest caveat is placement type. Drake feeds regional firms, state and local government, public-interest organizations, and judicial roles in Iowa and the Midwest, but it places very few graduates into national large firms or federal clerkships. If your goal is BigLaw or a national clerkship, a higher-ranked school is the better bet; if your goal is to practice in the region, in government, or in public service, Drake’s network and capital-city access are a real edge.
How much does Drake Law cost?
Full-time tuition at Drake is about $51,390 for 2025-26, meaningfully below the $70,000-plus charged by national-tier schools. The net cost is lower still, which is where Drake’s value case gets strong.
About 85% of students receive grant or scholarship aid, averaging roughly $30,000 a year, enough to cover well over half of tuition, and more than 10% receive awards exceeding full tuition. Drake also offers full-tuition Public Service Scholarships for students committed to government and public-interest careers. For a regional practice career, that combination of modest tuition and heavy aid can make Drake one of the better returns on investment in the Midwest. Model it with our guides to law school cost, scholarships, and the most affordable law schools.
Is Drake Law School worth it?
For the right student, Drake is an excellent value. If you want to practice in Iowa or the broader Midwest, work in government or the legislature, build courtroom skills, enter public service, or specialize in agricultural law, Drake’s capital-city access, practice-first training, and low net cost are hard to beat at its price.
It is a weaker fit for someone targeting national BigLaw or a federal clerkship, where the rank and placement data favor higher-ranked schools. The Juris Doctor here is a three-year program built around experiential learning, and for a regionally focused, public-service-minded applicant, few schools deliver more practical preparation per tuition dollar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Drake University Law School’s acceptance rate?
Drake’s acceptance rate is about 54.8% for the 2025 cycle, with 432 offers from 788 applications. The median LSAT is 156 and the median GPA is 3.67, making it moderately selective.
What is Drake Law School ranked?
Drake ranks around #84 in the U.S. News Best Law Schools list, in the strong regional tier. Its value lies in regional and government placement rather than national BigLaw recruiting.
What is Drake Law known for?
Drake is the only law school in Iowa’s capital, giving students access to all three branches of government and the courts. It is known for its one-of-a-kind first-year Trial Practicum, a Constitutional Law Center established by Congress, an Agricultural Law Center, and a strong public-service mission.
What is Drake Law School’s bar passage rate?
Drake’s first-time bar passage rate is about 90%, above the Iowa state average of roughly 82%. Around 95% of graduates are employed within ten months, mostly in regional firms, government, and public service.
How much does Drake Law School cost?
Full-time tuition is about $51,390 for 2025-26, below most national schools. Roughly 85% of students receive grant aid averaging about $30,000, and Drake offers full-tuition Public Service Scholarships, making its net cost competitive.
Is Drake Law School worth it?
For students aiming at regional practice, government, public service, litigation, or agricultural law at a low net cost, yes. For those targeting national BigLaw or federal clerkships, a higher-ranked school is a better fit.
Sources: Drake University Law School’s official ABA 509 and employment disclosures (2025 report; Fall 2025 entering class): 788 applications, 432 offers, 54.8% acceptance, LSAT 153/156/159, median GPA 3.67, first-year class ~141, tuition ~$51,390, ~85% receiving grant aid (average ~$30,000). First-time bar passage ~90% (vs Iowa’s ~82%) and employment (~95% within ten months; minimal large-firm and clerkship placement) from 2024 ABA outcome data; program and history details, including the 1L Trial Practicum and 11:1 ratio, via the LSAC Drake profile. Ranking (~#84) per U.S. News. Founded 1865; the only law school in Iowa’s capital. Reviewed by Lexinter Law Directory. Report a correction.
