Throughout its growth and change, Clarke College has been “progressive with the times.” As new programs have developed, Clarke has continued to challenge and support students, who are the heart of the institution, in their intellectual and personal growth. In an institution known for its long tradition of excellence in education, students, faculty, and staff work together to maintain and strengthen that heritage.
Clarke College is a four-year Catholic college located in Dubuque, Iowa, United States, with a general attendance of approximately 1,200 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It is one of three four-year post-secondary institutions in the City of Dubuque, and is one of three Catholic colleges in the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
Clarke has long been noted for its exceptional arts programs. Among colleges in the area, Clarke has a reputation for having highly-developed art, drama, and music departments.
What is now known as Clarke College was founded in 1843 by Mother Mary Frances Clarke as a boarding school for local girls, and was known as Saint Mary's Academy. It was one of the first such schools built west of the Mississippi River, and operated out of several different locations in its early years.
In 1881, St. Mary's moved to its present location atop Dubuque's Seminary Hill (Clarke Drive) and was renamed Mount St. Joseph Academy and College. The college became a liberal arts school in 1901, and the first bachelor's degree was awarded in 1904. In 1910, Mt. St. Joseph was chartered by the state of Iowa, becoming a four-year college by 1913. The North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools accredited Mount St. Joseph in 1918. The academy portion of the school closed in 1928, and the college was given its current name of Clarke College, in honor of Mother Mary Frances Clarke.
In 1964, Clarke began a graduate program, with the first master's degrees awarded in 1967. The school was one of the first in Iowa to offer a program in Computer Science. Although Clarke College had been an all-female school since its founding, it became a coeducational institution in the spring of 1979.
On May 17, 1984, the school experienced a disastrous fire that destroyed four of its main buildings, including the Sacred Heart Chapel. The next day, students hung a large banner reading "Clarke Lives!" on the campus to show solidarity following the disaster. Soon after, the school launched a major reconstruction project to replace the destroyed buildings. By 1986, a new library, music performance hall, chapel, bookstore, administrative offices, and central atrium were dedicated. The massive, glass-enclosed Wahlert Atrium built following the fire has since become the main symbol of the school.
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| Percent of Students International: | 0% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 54% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | No |
| Member of: | NAA, NCAA |
| Sports Include: |
Basketball (Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference) Baseball (Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference) Track (Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 18,360 | ||
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 585 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 3,010 | 44% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 3,600 | 44% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 9,211 | 98% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 3,282 | 86% | |
Any Aid: |
99% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 61% (Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 8% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 473, Math: 473 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 628, Math: 643 |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 96% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 20, Verbal: 19, Math: 18 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 25, Verbal: 25, Math: 25 |
| Application Fee: | $ 25.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Not Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Required |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Required |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Not Required |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
