Loras College

Private · Moderately Selective · IA

Photo: Farragutful (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationIA · Midwest

SettingUrban

Undergrads1,083

Student:faculty12:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate43.9%

6-yr grad rate67.6%

Drop-out rate17.7%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$40k

Out-of-state tuition$40k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity25.5%

Gender diversity41.5%

International5.5%

IdentityRoman Catholic

Overview

Loras College, in Dubuque, is Iowa's oldest college, a Catholic liberal arts institution set on bluffs above the Mississippi River in a historic river city. Its identity blends a traditional Catholic mission with the practical, career-oriented programs common among Midwestern regional colleges.

Academics

Media studies, education, and business are the most established programs, with media studies carrying a stronger reputation than is typical for a college of this size. Class sizes are generally small, with a personal, mentorship-oriented teaching style consistent with Loras's Catholic liberal-arts tradition.

Campus & student life

Dubuque's river-city setting, layered with nineteenth-century architecture and steep bluff topography, gives Loras a strong sense of place. Intramural sports and volunteer service are prominent parts of student life, reflecting the college's Catholic service orientation.

Worth knowing

Loras shares its Dubuque location with two other colleges, Clarke University and the University of Dubuque, giving students some informal cross-campus social and event overlap uncommon in a city this size.

loras.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate99.9%

Enrolled mid-50%—

Test policynot used

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying