Location: Des Moines, IA•In-State Tuition: $49,944•Admission Rate: 64%•Avg SAT: 1288
Median Earnings (1yr)
$51,968
83rd percentile
60th percentile in Iowa
Median Debt
$19,250
21% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.37 ManageableSample: 48 graduates

Analysis

Drake's marketing program delivers a rare combination: graduates earn nearly $52,000 their first year—outperforming 83% of marketing programs nationally—while carrying just $19,250 in debt, roughly 21% below the national median. That debt burden gets paid down quickly when first-year earnings are 2.7 times the debt amount. Within Iowa's competitive marketing landscape, Drake sits firmly in the middle tier for earnings, trailing the University of Iowa by just $900 but beating the state median by nearly $5,000.

The trajectory here matters as much as the starting point. Earnings jump 35% to over $70,000 by year four, suggesting Drake's connections in Des Moines corporate circles translate into real career advancement. While this isn't the state's absolute top performer for initial salary, the combination of below-average debt and above-average earnings creates meaningful financial flexibility right out of college. The moderate sample size offers reasonable confidence in these outcomes.

For parents weighing options, this represents solid value without the gamble: your child enters the workforce earning more than most marketing graduates nationwide, carries manageable debt, and has room to grow. It's not bargain-priced, but the return justifies the investment better than most marketing programs at similar institutions.

Where Drake University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all marketing bachelors's programs nationally

Drake UniversityOther marketing programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Drake University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Drake University earns $52k — 83th percentile among marketing bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Drake University$51,968$70,052+35%
University of Iowa$52,895$63,149+19%
Iowa State University$48,304$60,108+24%
University of Northern Iowa$48,990$58,874+20%
Saint Ambrose University$46,480$57,855+24%

Compare to Similar Programs in Iowa

Marketing bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Iowa (15 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Drake UniversityDes Moines$49,944$51,968$70,052$19,2500.37
University of IowaIowa City$10,964$52,895$63,149$25,0000.47
Upper Iowa UniversityFayette$19,000$52,313$52,947$31,0000.59
University of Northern IowaCedar Falls$9,728$48,990$58,874$17,7500.36
Iowa State UniversityAmes$10,497$48,304$60,108$23,2500.48
University of DubuqueDubuque$40,065$48,207$55,208$23,3750.48
National Median—$44,728—$24,2670.54

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with marketing graduates

Advertising and Promotions Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis.

$159,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Marketing Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.

$159,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraising Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.

$132,870/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Web and Digital Interface Designers

Design digital user interfaces or websites. Develop and test layouts, interfaces, functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers or devices. May use web framework applications as well as client-side code and processes. May evaluate web design following web and accessibility standards, and may analyze web use metrics and optimize websites for marketability and search engine ranking. May design and test interfaces that facilitate the human-computer interaction and maximize the usability of digital devices, websites, and software with a focus on aesthetics and design. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content and links.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Video Game Designers

Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Search Marketing Strategists

Employ search marketing tactics to increase visibility and engagement with content, products, or services in Internet-enabled devices or interfaces. Examine search query behaviors on general or specialty search engines or other Internet-based content. Analyze research, data, or technology to understand user intent and measure outcomes for ongoing optimization.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraisers

Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. May design and produce promotional materials. May also raise awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs.

$66,490/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Survey Researchers

Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.

$63,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Drake University, approximately 21% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 48 graduates with reported earnings and 46 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.