School data & stats
Outcomes
Cost
Community
Overview
Clarke University, on a bluff above the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa, was founded by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and remains a small Catholic university with a personal, close-knit feel. Its Catholic identity is present in campus life without dominating who attends — the student body includes many non-Catholic students drawn by its health-professions reputation.
Academics
Nursing, physical therapy, and athletic training are Clarke's clear strengths, supported by clinical partnerships in the Dubuque area and small cohort sizes that let health-sciences students get hands-on lab and clinical time earlier than at larger universities. Education and business round out the broader curriculum.
Campus & student life
The Dubuque campus is compact and walkable, set in a river city with a mix of small-city amenities and access to outdoor recreation along the bluffs and river. Athletics compete in NCAA Division III, and campus culture emphasizes tight community over a large social scene.
Getting in
Clarke's review is holistic and personal rather than formula-driven, consistent with a school this size — admissions staff get to know applicants individually, and health-professions programs may carry additional expectations around science preparation.
After graduation
Nursing and allied-health graduates place well into regional hospital systems and clinics across eastern Iowa and the wider tri-state area, helped by the clinical relationships built into the curriculum.
Admissions
Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)
Applying
clarke.edu ↗High school coursework
RequiredNo specific high school course-unit distribution published; admission preference given to cumulative/core GPA of 2.5+ (test-optional)
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