DRAKE UNIVERSITY

Drake offers its students many of the benefits of large state universities with the intimacy and personalization of a private institution. Drake's size allows faculty and staff to foster close relationships with students that help meet educational, professional and personal goals.

Drake's mission is to provide an exceptional learning environment that prepares students for meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship. The Drake experience is distinguished by collaborative learning among students, faculty, and staff and by the integration of the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation.

Founded in 1881 by a maverick preacher and a swashbuckling Civil War general, Drake University has been home to leaders and luminaries for more than 125 years.

The institution was founded in 1881, when most of the staff of Oskaloosa College left that college to establish what would become Drake University, founded by Francis Marion Drake, a resident of Centerville, Iowa and Governor of Iowa (1896–1898). From its founding in 1881, Drake University maintained affiliation with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) although no religious affiliation is officially recognized today.

The university's law school, the oldest law school in the country west of the Mississippi River, was established in 1865 by Chester C. Cole, who served on the Iowa Supreme Court from 1864 to 1876. In 1969 Drake's basketball team went to the Final Four under coach Maurice John, but were defeated by the UCLA Bruins by three points. Drake did defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels by 20 points in the third place game.