Scholarships and Financial Aid
Drake University is pleased to offer scholarships and financial aid that can cover up to 50% of the cost of tuition, room, and board at Drake to incoming undergraduate international students. These opportunities are designed to assist students who have solid academic records and who demonstrate potential for success at Drake. Some of the awards are based solely upon merit, while others are based upon financial need, and students may receive a combination of these two forms of awards. With the exception of the National Alumni and Carpenter scholarships, the maximum amount of assistance awarded for the 2007-2008 academic year is $15,100 per year, which represents 50% of tuition, room, and board expenses. Students living off campus can receive a maximum award of $11,640.
All students will be considered for the highest award for which they are eligible. Financial assistance is renewable if recipients continue to meet qualifying criteria. Additional funding is not normally available after the first year of enrollment. International students are able to help offset their personal expenses by working on campus, and they tend to earn approximately $1,000-2,000 per academic year. Drake University is not able to offer loans to international students; however, some banks and organizations, such as TERI (http://www.teri.org) and Citibank (http://www.citibank.com) do offer loans to international students who are able to have their loans co-signed by U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Please refer to the information below for specific information on the types of awards that are available, the general requirements for eligibility, and the application process and deadlines. Separate applications are required for some of the awards, and scholarship deadlines may vary.
Academic Scholarships for Freshmen
In order for entering freshmen to be considered for Drake University's academic scholarships, which are not based upon financial need, students must take the SAT or the ACT and submit their scores to Drake. Official academic records and/or external examination results must also be provided, and grades not based upon the standard American 4.0 grading scale will be carefully recalculated upon that scale. No student who has attended a postsecondary institution is eligible for scholarships designated for freshmen.
Presidential Scholarships
These renewable, merit-based scholarships, which range in amounts from $6,500 to $12,000, recognize the academic success of entering freshmen coming directly from secondary school. Applicants who have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent) and who submit qualifying SAT or ACT scores may be considered for these awards. There is no specific deadline or application form for these scholarships; students will be considered for these scholarships after being admitted to the University.
Drake University National Alumni Scholarships
The Drake University National Alumni Association awards prestigious scholarships each year to outstanding freshmen entering directly from secondary school. Four of these scholarships carry special designations for local students, while the remaining awards are open to all U.S. and international students. Students who have attended any kind of postsecondary institution are ineligible. These scholarships are competitive and based on merit and leadership rather than on financial need. Beyond the Alumni Scholarships, which cover the full cost of tuition, room, and board in University housing, there are also Carpenter Scholarships, which are full-tuition awards. Each student who participates in the interview portion of the competition is eligible to receive a Trustee Scholarship of $1,000 in addition to the Presidential Scholarship. All of these scholarships are renewable.
Qualified applicants for National Alumni Scholarships must have an SAT math and critical reading score of 1270 or ACT composite score of 29 from a single test date, in addition to a 3.75 cumulative grade point average on the 4.0 grading scale or rank in the top 5 percent of their secondary-school class. There are no exceptions to the eligibility requirements. A separate application is required for this scholarship and can be obtained upon request from the Office of Admission. The completed National Alumni Scholarship application, including the essay, must be postmarked by the December 7, 2008, deadline and received in the Office of Admission no later than 10 days after the deadline. The application for admission and all official supporting documents must also be postmarked and received by those same deadlines. Although all qualified scholarship applicants are required to visit the Drake campus on a specific Saturday in February for interviews in order to compete, accommodations will be made for students living overseas to participate in the interview process by telephone on those same dates.
Academic Scholarships for Transfer Students
Presidential Transfer Awards
Transfer students with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale from all postsecondary schools attended will be considered for Presidential Transfer Awards ranging from $5,000 to $8,000. No separate application is required but students must first submit an application for admission. Presidential Transfer Awards are renewable based on consecutive full-time undergraduate enrollment.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships of $1,000 are awarded to out standing students from two-year institutions who hold curret PTK membership. This scholarship is added to the value of the Presidential Transfer Awards. Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 on a 4.0 scale from all post-secondary schools attended to qualify for the award. Although no separate scholarship application is required, the PTK advisor verification form must be submitted to the Office of Admission.
Additional Scholarships and Grants for All International Students
Fine Arts Scholarships
Fine Arts Scholarships are available to select students who display exceptional talent in art, music, or theatre arts and who are seeking a fine arts degree. Information and applications for these scholarships are available from each of Drake's fine arts departments (art, music, and theatre arts).
Division I Athletic Scholarships
Division I Athletic Scholarships are offered to outstanding student athletes in both men's and women's sports. Men's scholarships are awarded in basketball, soccer, track and field, cross-country, golf and tennis. Women's scholarships are available in basketball, track and field, cross-country, golf, soccer, volleyball, softball, and tennis. Contact the coach of the sport in which you participate to obtain information on athletic scholarship opportunities. View the athletic department Web site.
Need-based Financial Aid for All Students
Need-based financial assistance that can cover up to 50% of tuition, room, and board costs is available to incoming international students. Currently, the maximum value of this need-based assistance is $15,100. Students who choose to live off campus may be awarded up to 50% of tuition only, which is currently valued at $11,640. Students who are awarded any merit scholarship and demonstrate financial need may also be considered for an additional tuition grant beyond the merit award up to a maximum of $15,100 for all aid received. Need-based grants are renewable if the student is enrolled on a full-time basis and remains in good academic standing.
There is no specific deadline for applying for need-based aid. Awards are also available for students entering in the spring (January) semester. Application for these awards can be made by completing the Drake University Financial Aid Form or the Foreign Student Financial Aid Application from the College Scholarship Service/College Board. Drake's Financial Certificate must accompany the financial aid application. Loans from Drake are not available to international students; however, international students may work on campus to help meet a portion of their expenses in addition to receiving merit- and/or need-based aid.
All awards are subject to change and are available on a funds-available basis.
Note to students admitted to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program: Need-based financial assistance and merit aid are available only through the fourth year of the six-year PharmD program.
