Clarke University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Clarke University is a private research university in Dubuque, Iowa, enrolling about 742 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 71.83% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $55,396 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $40,910
- 2024 Average Net Price: $24,479 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 71.83% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 742 97.6% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 56.12%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
- First-Generation Students: 29.4%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 26.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 65.8%
- Average SAT Score: 1054
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 846
- Applicants (IPEDS): 3,087
- Room & Board: $11,734 annual estimate
Clarke University: what the data shows
Common questions about Clarke University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Clarke University?
Clarke University is located in Dubuque, IA (ZIP 52001-3198).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Clarke University public or private?
Clarke University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Clarke University cost?
Published tuition: $40,910.
Average net price after aid: $24,479.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $23,405 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $22,543 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $22,645 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $27,890 |
| $110,001+ | $24,784 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $163,640.
How hard is it to get into Clarke University?
Admission rate: 71.83%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1054 and midpoint ACT 21.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Clarke University?
Total enrollment: 742 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 846 students.
Graduate enrollment: 147 students.
About 98% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Clarke University?
150%-time completion rate: 56.12%.
First-year retention: 67.3%.
What do graduates of Clarke University earn?
Median earnings: $49,157 six years after entry; $55,396 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $26,717.
36.73% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Clarke University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (48 completions)
- Physical Therapy/Therapist (24 completions)
- Social Work (23 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (22 completions)
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management (20 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (20 completions)
- Psychology, General (18 completions)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (13 completions)
- Health and Wellness, General (13 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (12 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Clarke University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 71.83%; completion rate 56.12%; median earnings $55,396 at 10 years; net price $24,479. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$40,910
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Clarke University was $40,910.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$24,479
2024 Value
In 2024 Clarke University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $24,479.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$97,916 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$24,479 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$163,640 4-Year Tuition
$11,734 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,514 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$54,158 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$216,632 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Clarke University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
36.73% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
73.84% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Clarke University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Clarke University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $28,000 | $28,000 | $22,398 |
| 2014 | $28,900 | $28,900 | $23,216 |
| 2015 | $29,940 | $29,940 | $23,799 |
| 2016 | $30,900 | $30,900 | $23,468 |
| 2017 | $31,950 | $31,950 | $24,334 |
| 2018 | $33,350 | $33,350 | $23,464 |
| 2019 | $34,670 | $34,670 | $21,736 |
| 2020 | $35,750 | $35,750 | $24,860 |
| 2021 | $36,870 | $36,870 | $26,777 |
| 2022 | $38,060 | $38,060 | $27,275 |
| 2023 | $39,600 | $39,600 | $20,068 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
71.83% Acceptance Rate
3,087 Total Applicants
2,104 Students Admitted
199 First-Time Students Enrolled
9.46% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1054
ACT Average: 21
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Clarke University reported total enrollment of about 742 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 54% male and 46% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (52.2%), Black or African American (13.3%), and Hispanic or Latino (11.7%). About 36.73% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 29.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Clarke University in 2024 is 742 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 846 students. Graduate enrollment is about 147 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
67.3%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 52.2%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
44.39% 100% Completion Time
56.12% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 44.39% of students graduating from Clarke University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 77% male / 23% female
- Physical Therapy/Therapist: 17% male / 83% female
- Social Work: 26% male / 74% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Clarke University.
Return on Investment
$26,717 Median Student Debt
$55,396 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
48.23% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
465.75% Return on Investment
4.8 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Clarke University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 22 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 48 completions
2. Physical Therapy/Therapist: 24 completions
3. Social Work: 23 completions
4. Elementary Education and Teaching: 22 completions
5. Sport and Fitness Administration/Management: 20 completions
6. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 20 completions
7. Psychology, General: 18 completions
8. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 13 completions
9. Health and Wellness, General: 13 completions
Most popular programs at Clarke University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Clarke University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Clarke University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 65.8%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $6,842
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,352
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Clarke University is a private non-profit institution located in Dubuque, IA, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Physical Therapy/Therapist, Social Work. Enrollment is approximately 742 students. Student body composition includes White (52.2%), Black or African American (13.3%), Hispanic or Latino (11.7%). The admission rate is 71.83%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1054. The 150%-time completion rate is 56.12%. Approximately 36.73% of students receive Pell Grants. About 29.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
Location
Dubuque, IA 52001-3198
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Clarke University provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Clarke University located?
Clarke University is located in Dubuque, IA.
What is Clarke University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Clarke University is 71.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 3,087 applicants and 2,104 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Clarke University cost?
Reported tuition is $40,910 and average net price is $24,479 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,734 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Clarke University?
Clarke University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 846 students, White (52.2%), Black or African American (13.3%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Clarke University?
About 29.4% of students at Clarke University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Clarke University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Clarke University reports midpoint SAT about 1054 and midpoint ACT about 21.
What do graduates of Clarke University earn?
Median earnings are $49,157 six years after entry and $55,396 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Clarke University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 56.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Clarke University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $26,717.
Is Clarke University public or private?
Clarke University is a private nonprofit institution located in Dubuque, IA.
Is Clarke University an HBCU?
No. Clarke University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Clarke University a tribal college?
No. Clarke University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Iowa college costs
- Iowa colleges by ROI
- Dubuque, Iowa city profile
- Plains regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Iowa
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.