Clarke University vs Grinnell College

Clarke University and Grinnell College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Clarke University, a private Catholic university in Dubuque, Iowa, boasts a 90% acceptance rate, welcoming a diverse student body of over 1,400 undergraduates. Grinnell College, a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 20% and a smaller undergraduate population of around 1,700. While Clarke University excels in nursing, education, and business programs, Grinnell College is renowned for its strengths in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Both institutions offer a supportive learning environment and encourage students to engage in extracurricular activities, but their unique characteristics may appeal to different individuals. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover which college better aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Clarke University logo

Clarke University

Grinnell College logo

Grinnell College

Overview

Location Dubuque, Iowa Grinnell, Iowa
Campus setting City: Small Town: Remote
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 65.0% 93.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation Catholic

Admission

Acceptance rate 88.8% 10.5%
Application fees
SAT range 900 - 1120 1370 - 1530
ACT range 19 - 23 30 - 34
Students submitting SAT score 8.0% 29.0%
Students submitting ACT score 21.0% 33.0%
Total number of applicants 2,006 10,513
Total number of admissions given out 1,781 1,108
Admitted students who chose to enroll 183 471
Yield rate 10.3% 42.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $52,241 $76,098
Average net price $25,414 $37,423
Tuition $35,740 $58,156
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,900

Meal plan: $5,500
Room/dormitory: $6,779

Meal plan: $7,572
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $23,968
100.0%
Average amount $35,821
Students receiving federal student loan 81.0%
Average amount $8,599
36.0%
Average amount $3,952
Students taking out private loans 27.0%
Average amount $12,203
12.0%
Average amount $5,903

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 717
Men 54.5% Women 45.5%
1,748
Men 47.5% Women 52.5%
Graduate students 171
Men 22.2% Women 77.8%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 91.5%
International students 4.6% 19.4%
Campus local/setting City: Small Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 536 1,450
First year students are required to live on campus? No Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A California Illinois Iowa Minnesota Texas

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • Social Sciences
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Physical Science
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 8:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 54.5% 86.9%
Dropout rate 6.2% 12.9%
Transferred out 39.3% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,062
  • Year 2: $92,277
  • Year 3: $91,122
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,009
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $68,295
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,068
  • Year 2: $47,846
  • Year 3: $59,658
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,088
  • Year 2: $57,210
  • Year 3: $56,352
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,604
  • Year 2: $43,798
  • Year 3: $44,807
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,623
  • Year 2: $39,009
  • Year 3: $42,849
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,717
  • Year 2: $29,141
  • Year 3: $36,572
Education, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $35,060
  • Year 3: $35,347
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,866
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,661
  • Year 2: $52,941
  • Year 3: $55,487
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,893
  • Year 2: $34,704
  • Year 3: $49,481
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,499
  • Year 2: $29,141
  • Year 3: $41,882
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,517
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $40,572
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $26,353
  • Year 3: $37,882
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $21,508
  • Year 3: $37,613
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,718
  • Year 2: $19,227
  • Year 3: $29,237
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: $28,680
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,658
  • Year 2: $91,744
  • Year 3: N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,239
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A

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