Dubuque, Iowa Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Dubuque, Iowa: median public in-state tuition $40,367 (+632.4% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $55,396 (+1.9% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 95.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $25,750 (+94.0% vs U.S.) 3,654 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 6 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 3,654 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $40,367 (+632.4% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $55,396 (+1.9% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 95.1% (+7.1 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $20,716 (+107.8% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $25,750 (+94.0% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $16,750
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 61.9%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 76.6%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Dubuque serve students across Iowa with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 6 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 3,654 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $40,367. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Dubuque, Iowa and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Dubuque vs Iowa & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, Iowa | $40,367 | $20,716 | $25,750 | 61.9% | 3,654 |
| Iowa (state median) | $6,525 | $11,272 | $14,745 | 63.0% | 134,174 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Dubuque, Iowa vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, Iowa | $55,396 | 95.1% | 76.6% | 5.8% | — | 82.7% | 0.48 |
| Iowa (state median) | $55,286 | 94.0% | 75.8% | 3.7% | — | 82.3% | 0.44 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Iowa (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, Iowa | $40,367 | $20,716 | $25,750 | 61.9% | 3,654 | $55,396 | 95.1% |
| Ames | $10,787 | $19,561 | $14,348 | 75.3% | 25,543 | $63,386 | 94.9% |
| Iowa City | $11,283 | $21,734 | $14,164 | 74.6% | 22,377 | $64,762 | 93.9% |
| Ankeny | $13,030 | $13,726 | $11,986 | 67.5% | 10,851 | $40,650 | 88.3% |
| Cedar Rapids | $40,878 | $17,643 | $17,850 | 61.8% | 10,012 | $58,956 | 94.9% |
| Cedar Falls | $9,936 | $15,901 | $16,096 | 67.9% | 7,674 | $55,177 | 95.2% |
| Davenport | $15,600 | $19,034 | $9,500 | 70.8% | 5,824 | $59,531 | 94.1% |
| Des Moines | $34,762 | $24,349 | $18,622 | 65.5% | 4,986 | $62,234 | 92.4% |
| Sioux City | $30,566 | $19,820 | $15,000 | 50.1% | 4,668 | $54,984 | 95.1% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Outcomes by sector in Dubuque, Iowa
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private nonprofit | 3 | $55,396 | 95.1% | 76.6% | 5.8% | — | 82.7% |
Top 3 colleges in Dubuque, Iowa by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 67.6%, Loras College
Loras College
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 56.1%, Clarke University
Clarke University
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 40.1%, University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque
Top 3 colleges in Dubuque, Iowa by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 95.9%, Loras College
Loras College
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 95.1%, Clarke University
Clarke University
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 93.7%, University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque
Top 3 most selective colleges in Dubuque, Iowa (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 71.8%, Clarke University
Clarke University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 88.6%, University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 99.9%, Loras College
Loras College
Top 3 colleges in Dubuque, Iowa by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $66,628, University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $62,676, Clarke University
Clarke University
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $61,147, Loras College
Loras College
Top 3 colleges in Dubuque, Iowa by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $86,081, University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $78,989, Loras College
Loras College
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $75,920, Clarke University
Clarke University
Top 3 colleges in Dubuque, Iowa by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $49,157, Clarke University
Clarke University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $46,069, Loras College
Loras College
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $44,960, University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque
Top 3 colleges in Dubuque, Iowa by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $54,415, Loras College
Loras College
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $52,881, Clarke University
Clarke University
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $51,123, University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque
Top 3 colleges in Dubuque, Iowa by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $58,289, Loras College
Loras College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $55,396, Clarke University
Clarke University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $51,190, University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque
Top 3 colleges in Dubuque, Iowa by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $161,787, Loras College
Loras College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $140,196, Clarke University
Clarke University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $129,541, University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque
Top 3 most affordable colleges in Dubuque, Iowa (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $20,716, Loras College
Loras College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $23,386, University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque
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Rank 3, Net Price, $24,479, Clarke University
Clarke University
Top 3 colleges in Dubuque, Iowa by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 82.3%, Loras College
Loras College
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 76.6%, University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 67.3%, Clarke University
Clarke University
In-state tuition: Dubuque, Iowa vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Dubuque, Iowa median in-state tuition is $40,367, +632.4% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Dubuque, Iowa vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Dubuque, Iowa is $25,750 (+94.0% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $16,750.
Median earnings (10 years out): Dubuque, Iowa vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Dubuque, Iowa center around $55,396 (+1.9% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Dubuque, Iowa vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 95.1% at the median Dubuque, Iowa campus (+7.1 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Dubuque, Iowa median public in-state tuition is $40,367, about +632.4% vs the national median. Versus the Plains region, tuition is +548.5%.
Median graduate debt is $25,750 (+94.0% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Dubuque, Iowa are $55,396, about +1.9% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 95.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+7.1 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 76.6% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 5.8% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 82.7% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Loras College (95.9%), Clarke University (95.1%), University of Dubuque (93.7%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Dubuque, Iowa, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $55,396 (3 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Dubuque, Iowa is 61.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Dubuque?
This city profile covers 6 campuses in Dubuque, Iowa with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Dubuque?
Median in-state tuition in Dubuque is $40,367 and median net price is $20,716. For Iowa overall, medians are $6,525 and $11,272; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Dubuque?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Dubuque is $55,396 vs $55,286 for Iowa and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Dubuque colleges?
Median completer debt in Dubuque is $25,750 vs $14,745 for Iowa and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Dubuque?
Top campuses on this page include Loras College (graduation) and Loras College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Dubuque?
Among 6 campuses in Dubuque, Iowa, 5 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (2), Presbyterian Church (USA) (1), Plymouth Brethren (1).
Sources & related
- Iowa college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON