Clarke University's 1,075 students enjoy a 55-acre campus on a bluff in a quiet residential area overlooking the Mississippi River and the city of Dubuque, Iowa (population 60,000). The campus is just a three-hour drive from Chicago and five hours from Minneapolis.
A liberal arts and sciences university focused on progressing with the times, Clarke has developed from humble beginnings to offering more than 30 undergraduate and six graduate programs. Clarke boasts outstanding programs in a variety of fields, including nursing, physical therapy, education and the arts. The sciences are a Clarke strong suit, bolstered by the state-of-the-art Center for Science Inquiry, which opened in 2013.
Students gain an edge from Clarke's Compass Experience, which helps make students career- and life-ready by bolstering their skills in leadership, self-sufficiency, spirituality and global and social awareness. Service is part of the Clarke culture; the university is on the President's Higher Education Honor Roll for community work. Internship and study-abroad opportunities are numerous.
Clarke athletics currently offers 18 teams competing in the NAIA, with football to be added in 2018.