Clarke University
Dubuque, Iowa · Private Nonprofit · 71.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 48/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Clarke University scores 48 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. Median 6-year earnings of $39,700 against a $24,479 net price produce an 11.7-year payback period and a 0.673 debt-to-earnings ratio. The 56.1% completion rate is below average. Clarke is a small (742 students) Dominican Catholic institution in Dubuque, Iowa. The repayment rate of 82.7% is above average - graduates who finish are managing their debt reasonably well. Registered Nursing (19 graduates, $62,676 year-one, ROI grade B) is the strongest program. Business Administration (32 graduates, $38,921 year-one, ROI grade C) is the largest program with full data. Kinesiology (24 graduates, $31,013 year-one, ROI grade D) and Psychology (22 graduates, $26,714 year-one, ROI grade D) are weaker performers. The $26,717 median debt is near the Stafford loan cap, indicating most students are borrowing near maximum federal limits. The 56.1% completion rate combined with $24,479 net price creates meaningful financial risk for the large share of students who do not graduate.
Clarke University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $40,910/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $40,910/yr |
| Average net price | $24,479/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $97,916 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,396 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,717 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $283 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 56.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 742 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $40,910/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $24,479/year, or roughly $97,916 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $23,405/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,784/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $26,717 in federal loans, which works out to about $283 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $55,396 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.67, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $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 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $23,405 per year at Clarke. Four-year cost around $93,600 against $39,700 median 6-year earnings is a poor financial outcome. Low-income students face the highest risk: $93k in total cost against $40k annual earnings and a 56.1% completion rate means a significant share will have debt without a degree. Nursing enrollment is the best financial path for this group.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $22,645, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $27,890. Unusually, the $48,001-75,000 bracket pays slightly less than the $30,001-48,000 bracket ($22,543), suggesting an income-schedule quirk in the aid formula. Four-year costs of $91,000-$112,000 are significant against these earnings. Middle-income families should model specific program outcomes before committing.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $24,784 per year. The four-year cost around $99,000 is close to the net price paid by lower-income brackets - Clarke's aid formula produces relatively compressed net prices across income bands. Full-pay families can access better-outcome institutions for similar or lower cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at Clarke University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $75,920 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $42,853 | D |
| Psychology | $54,384 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $74,114 | B |
| Teacher Education | $48,048 | C |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $73,295 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Clarke's strongest program: 19 graduates, $62,676 year-one, $74,114 at year four, ROI grade B, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.431 with $27,000 median debt. Dubuque-area nursing wages are lower than major metro markets, which explains the $63k year-one figure versus $70k+ at urban schools. The B grade reflects acceptable debt-to-earnings for a regional private nursing program. Students who complete nursing at Clarke enter the regional Iowa/Wisconsin healthcare market with reliable employment.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program at 32 graduates, $38,921 year-one, $75,920 at year four, C ROI grade, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.694 with $27,000 median debt. The year-four trajectory to $75k is strong for a small Iowa private but takes four years to materialize. Year-one of $39k against $27,000 debt at a private institution is a marginal start. The multi-year trajectory suggests graduate programs or career advancement rather than immediate compensation growth.
Psychology
Psychology shows 22 graduates with a D ROI grade: $26,714 year-one, $54,384 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.992 with $26,500 median debt. Near-parity between year-one earnings and debt load is a difficult financial position. The four-year trajectory to $54k is reasonable but takes four years of career advancement to reach. Psychology at Clarke, as at most small privates, is a graduate school pipeline; standalone employment outcomes at this price are financially stressful.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 78.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Clarke University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 71.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 470-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 430-570 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-24 |
| Enrollment | 742 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 36.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,842 |
Clarke admits 71.8% of applicants. SAT 470-590 Math and 430-570 Reading are broad ranges. ACT 16-24 composite describes a wide academic band. Admission is generally accessible. The 56.1% completion rate is the most important number for prospective students: more than four in ten who start do not finish, and this should inform decisions about enrollment readiness and support needs.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Clarke's peer set includes Briar Cliff University, Buena Vista University, Heritage University, Cleary University, and Franklin College. Among small Catholic/private Iowa colleges, Clarke's Dominican affiliation, Dubuque location, and nursing program distinguish it. Briar Cliff (also Iowa, also Catholic, similar size) is a direct peer. Both face the same regional market constraints and small-college economics. Clarke's repayment rate (82.7%) is stronger than most peers at similar completion rates, suggesting those who do graduate are managing their finances reasonably.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarke University (this school) | 48 | $24,479 | $55,396 |
| Heritage University | 51 | $14,598 | $49,416 |
| Cleary University | 49 | $22,143 | $54,186 |
| Franklin College | 48 | $22,855 | $55,376 |
| Briar Cliff University | 46 | $23,907 | $54,475 |
| Buena Vista University | 39 | $18,846 | $49,156 |
Who Thrives Here
Clarke admits 71.8% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 470-590 Math and 430-570 Reading; ACT composite 16-24. Enrollment is 742. The Pell grant rate of 36.7% indicates substantial lower-income enrollment. Clarke is a Dominican Catholic liberal arts university serving primarily Iowa and Wisconsin students. The small size creates close faculty-student relationships. The ACT 25th percentile of 16 and Reading SAT 25th percentile of 430 indicate broadly open academic access. Students enrolling in nursing have the clearest financial path; students in arts, kinesiology, or social sciences face weak earnings against significant debt.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Clarke University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $24,479 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $55,396 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.7 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $26,717 against $55,396 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.