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Is Clarke University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Clarke, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Clarke sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $55,396 helps, but median debt of $26,717 plus yearly net price of $24,479 creates a tighter path. For context, Clarke's net price is about 13% above the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$25,692
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrNet price is slightly above average
You'd pay about $2,855 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $11,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price is manageable, but it makes the aid offer matter a lot.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$24,479
Median earnings 10 years out
$55,396
Median debt at graduation
$26,717
Graduation rate
56%
At Clarke, a typical graduate carries about $26,717 in student debt and earns roughly $55,396 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $304 per month, or 7% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Clarke is a private nonprofit four year school in Dubuque, IA. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
Saint Ambrose
Davenport, IA
Worth-It Score: 59/100
Median net price: $24,691
Private nonprofit 4-year
Briar Cliff
Sioux City, IA
Worth-It Score: 49/100
Median net price: $23,907
Private nonprofit 4-year
Cornell
Mount Vernon, IA
Worth-It Score: 57/100
Median net price: $23,634
Private nonprofit 4-year
University of Dubuque
Dubuque, IA
Worth-It Score: 44/100
Median net price: $23,386
Private nonprofit 4-year
Central
Pella, IA
Worth-It Score: 59/100
Median net price: $23,377
Common questions about Clarke
The median net price at Clarke is $24,479 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in Iowa? See the most affordable private colleges in Iowa →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →