University of Dubuque

Private · Moderately Selective · IA

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationIA · Midwest

SettingUrban

Undergrads1,440

Student:faculty10:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate30.1%

6-yr grad rate40.1%

Drop-out rate23.4%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$42k

Out-of-state tuition$42k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity29.4%

Gender diversity39.4%

International2.9%

IdentityPresbyterian Church (USA)

Overview

The University of Dubuque is a Presbyterian-affiliated university in Dubuque, Iowa, a city known for its bluffs along the Mississippi River. The university emphasizes access, aiming to serve students who might not otherwise consider or afford a private college, and maintains an on-campus theological seminary alongside its undergraduate programs.

Academics

Its best-known program is aviation — students train toward flight ratings using the local airport as a working classroom — alongside established programs in nursing and business. The seminary gives the university a theological dimension uncommon among schools its size, operating largely as a separate graduate-level track from the undergraduate college.

Worth knowing

The aviation program's use of Dubuque's actual regional airport for flight training is a concrete, hands-on feature rather than a simulator-based program, which matters for students specifically pursuing professional pilot careers. The university's stated access mission also shapes its financial aid approach relative to peer private colleges.

dbq.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate88.6%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 980–1220 · ACT 18–24

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying