What Clarke University is like

What it's like

Clarke is a small, intimate Catholic liberal arts university in Dubuque, Iowa with roughly 962 students. The university emphasizes community and care—described by a recent graduate as a place where professors and peers provide genuine support and smaller class sizes foster meaningful connections. The school sits on a scenic bluff overlooking the Mississippi River and downtown Dubuque, which offers a mix of small-town charm and larger metropolitan amenities. The campus is highly walkable, with 15 of 16 buildings located along Clarke Drive, and features the distinctive glass-enclosed Wahlert Atrium as its main symbol, rebuilt after a devastating 1984 fire that became a pivotal moment in the university's identity.

Academic feel

Clarke offers undergraduate degrees across 19 academic departments with over 40 majors and programs, alongside graduate master's and doctoral degrees. The curriculum includes a general education requirement spanning arts/fine arts, English composition, history, humanities, mathematics, philosophy, sciences, and social science. Research productivity spans nursing, medical education, physics, engineering, social psychology, and mathematics education. Class sizes skew small—the majority of sections enroll 2–19 students—supporting the institution's emphasis on close faculty-student interaction. An Academic Resource Center extends support beyond coursework, helping students develop life skills like time management and emotional intelligence through peer mentoring and advising.

Social life

Student life centers on resident community: 90% of freshmen and 61% of all undergraduates live in college housing. The university offers multiple student organizations and hosts arts-centered programming including performances, gallery exhibits, and community events like Clarke Fest. Campus Ministry, drama/theater, choral groups, musical theater, and various music ensembles are available. However, there is no Greek life (no fraternities or sororities listed), and the residential emphasis suggests a tightly-knit on-campus social fabric rather than a commuter or party-oriented environment. The location in Dubuque provides access to bike trails, ski slopes, a symphony orchestra, and a downtown cultural scene.

What you should consider

Students seeking close mentorship and a caring community are well-suited to Clarke. The emphasis on small classes, faculty availability, and peer support attracts those who value personal connection over anonymity. The Catholic identity and Campus Ministry suggest a welcoming environment for faith-oriented students. The university's 70% out-of-state enrollment indicates appeal to students from across the country seeking a residential liberal arts experience. Health professions majors (29.6% of bachelor's degrees awarded) and education students (10.3%) find strong support, as do those pursuing nursing, psychology, and business. Students interested in hands-on learning benefit from options like internships, study abroad, cross-registration, and distance learning. Students seeking a large research university or extensive graduate program offerings may find Clarke's ~962-student enrollment limiting. Those seeking robust Greek life will not find it here. The rural Iowa location, while picturesque, may not appeal to students seeking major urban centers. Commuter students may feel less integrated given the residential focus (61% of undergraduates live on campus). The Catholic affiliation, while welcoming to all faiths, centers the institution's values around a specific tradition that may not resonate with all students.

Strengths

• Clarke University women's basketball team won the 2022–23 NAIA national championship.[1]
• Small class sizes, with the majority of undergraduate sections enrolling 2–19 students, enable close faculty-student interaction.[2]
• The university is home to notable alumni including George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones writer) and Sister Mary Kenneth Keller, the first woman in the U.S. to receive a PhD in Computer Science, who founded Clarke's computer science department.[1]
• The campus features a distinctive walkable layout with 15 of 16 buildings located along Clarke Drive, fostering community and accessibility.[1]

Traditions

• The Wahlert Atrium, a massive glass-enclosed structure built following the devastating 1984 fire, has become the main symbol of the school and represents Clarke's resilience and commitment to renewal.[1]

Recent news

Clarke announced the appointment of Dr. Michael C. Gleason as Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, bringing over 20 years of educational experience. The university's women's basketball team won the 2022–23 NAIA national championship, defeating defending champion Thomas Moore University 63–52. The institution has also received recognition for its transfer program and grants supporting professional development and the Clarke Scholars Program.