“Private Catholic liberal arts university on a Dubuque bluff over the Mississippi River.”
Clarke University is a private Catholic university founded in 1843 by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, making it one of the oldest universities in Iowa and the Upper Midwest. Located atop a scenic hill overlooking the Mississippi River in Dubuque — a historic riverfront city at the tri-state intersection of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin — Clarke's 55-acre campus comprises 16 academic, residential, and athletic buildings surrounded by large grassy knolls. The university is small by design, with roughly 1,100 students total and 850 undergraduates, a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and an educational philosophy anchored by the BVM Core Values of charity, justice, freedom, and education. Academically, Clarke offers 40+ undergraduate majors and minors, 10 pre-professional programs, and five graduate degrees (including a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a Doctor of Nursing Practice) across 19 academic departments. The most popular majors are Business Administration, Elementary Education, Nursing, and Sport and Fitness Administration, and Clarke is one of a handful of small private universities to offer a BSN nursing program alongside direct-admit pre-health advising for PT, OT, and PA pathways. International students benefit from very small class sizes (many under 20) and direct access to faculty mentors; merit scholarships ranging from $17,000 to $21,000 per year for undergraduate international students bring the published $42,420 tuition within reach of many families abroad. Clarke is moderately selective with an acceptance rate around 68% and uses a test-optional admissions policy for first-year applicants. Student life revolves around Clarke's close-knit community and its 22 NAIA athletic teams, which compete as the Clarke Pride in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The women's basketball team won the 2023 NAIA National Championship, and Clarke has invested in a growing co-ed esports program, a Kehl Dance program with a performing company, and dozens of student-run clubs and service organizations rooted in the BVM tradition. Dubuque itself offers riverboat cruises, the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, a revitalized Port of Dubuque entertainment district, and proximity (about three hours) to Chicago, Madison, and Milwaukee — making Clarke an affordable U.S. option for international students who want intimate undergraduate teaching without big-city costs.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceRolling (Fall)
Clarke uses rolling admissions; international students should apply 3-4 months before intended start for visa processing.
FAFSA Priority (U.S. students)
Priority consideration for institutional aid — does not apply to international applicants.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$40,910
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Business Administration is Clarke's most popular major, offered with concentrations in accounting, finance, marketing, and management; small classes let students complete hands-on case-study projects with local Dubuque-area employers.
Houses Clarke's BSN program, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and a nationally known Doctor of Physical Therapy — one of the few DPTs offered at a private university Clarke's size.
Iowa-licensed elementary and secondary teacher preparation with strong placement rates in Upper Midwest school districts; early field experience is built into the freshman year.
Home to the Kehl Dance program, theatre, music, and a growing digital media and communication track; Clarke's fine-arts heritage is a distinguishing strength among small Midwest universities.
4 years
Direct-admit BSN program with clinical rotations across tri-state (Iowa/Illinois/Wisconsin) hospital partners; NCLEX pass rates have consistently exceeded state averages.
3 years
Three-year entry-level DPT, one of only a few offered at a private Catholic university in the Upper Midwest; graduates place into hospital, outpatient, and sports medicine settings.
4 years
One of the few BA/BFA dance programs in Iowa, with a pre-professional performing company, touring opportunities, and integrated choreography intensives.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $40,910
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
