About Clarke University
Clarke University is a private nonprofit university in Dubuque, Iowa, in a small city. It enrolls roughly 742 undergraduates, most of them full time. The federal student-to-faculty ratio is about 9 to 1.
Nursing programs at Clarke University
Federal completion data shows nursing credentials awarded at these levels: bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) and doctoral degree in nursing (DNP). In the most recent reporting year, the school reported about 19 bachelor’s-level nursing graduates and about 8 doctoral-level nursing graduates. A bachelor’s program is the traditional four-year route to RN licensure and the usual starting point for later graduate study; see our ADN vs. BSN guide if you are still deciding on a degree level. The DNP option is aimed at licensed nurses pursuing the highest level of clinical practice. That is a relatively small annual graduating class, so ask how many seats open each year.
Cost and student outcomes
Published tuition and fees are about $42,400 a year. The average net price (what students receiving federal aid pay after grants and scholarships) is about $26,100 a year. About 40% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Students who finish the bachelor’s level and borrow leave with median federal loan debt of about $27,000. Federal earnings data puts median pay for those bachelor’s-level nursing graduates at roughly $74,300 one year after finishing and $74,100 four years out. These are estimates for graduates with reported earnings, not a promise. Schoolwide, about 52% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time and 67% return for a second year.
Applying and licensure
The school admits most applicants (about 72% overall), but that does not mean a nursing seat is guaranteed. Nursing programs usually add their own steps, such as prerequisite science courses, an entrance exam, a minimum GPA, and a limited number of seats, so contact the nursing department about current requirements. Our guide on how to get into nursing school walks through the typical process. Licensure runs through the state board of nursing in Iowa, and graduates sit for the NCLEX. Confirm that the specific program holds ACEN or CCNE accreditation and is approved by the state before you enroll. Compare other schools on our nursing schools in Iowa page.
Figures come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and can change. Confirm current details with the school.