Welcome to Drake University's
College of Business and Public
Administration (CBPA)!

We are committed to helping our students develop leadership skills, values and ethics important to the business climate today. To achieve this goal, our programs are innovative and offer the best learning opportunity to our students. We rely heavily on our relationships with local, regional and national alumni and businesses essential to our programs.

Pursuing your business education needs at Drake is a rewarding experience. Today, more than 1,000 undergraduate and 500+ graduate students are choosing Drake to begin or enhance their business knowledge. We are one of only four colleges in Iowa accredited by the principal accrediting body for business schools - AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Our faculty’s combined business and teaching experience sets us apart from other universities. With 42 full-time faculty members and 14 staff members, we work hard to maintain a “real-world”, applications-based teaching environment. This is done by living our mission– bringing the classroom into the world and the world into the classroom.

Our undergraduate students begin business coursework their freshman year, so in many ways, they are exposed to the business curriculum, professors and community leaders, one to two years before students enrolled in other business programs. Classroom learning is enhanced by programs such as our Executive in Residence, J.W. Paquette Young Alumni Career Series, John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, as well as career fairs and internship opportunities offered through our Wells Fargo Career and Professional Development Center.

The College of Business and Public Administration offers four graduate-level degrees that are designed and taught by the same faculty and enhanced by our relationships with leading executives, public officials and non-profit directors. Our MBA program was voted “Best of Des Moines” in the 12th Annual Des Moines Business Record Reader’s Poll, August 2007. Certificate programs, tailored executive programs and continuing professional education are offered through the Center for Professional Studies and the EMC/Kelley Insurance Center.

Drake is leading the way in business education. Current initiatives in the College are making a positive impact on our students and faculty, with many more enhancements to come in the future. We are always looking for ways to improve our student’s learning experience and to enhance the curriculum we offer.

Thank you for your new and continuing interest in the College of Business and Public Administration. I look forward to seeing you on campus soon!

Dean Charles C. Edwards, Jr.