What Clarke University does

Clarke University is a private, nonprofit Catholic university located in Dubuque, Iowa, founded in 1843 by Mary Frances Clarke under the sponsorship of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM). The institution delivers undergraduate and graduate liberal arts education across disciplines including business administration, nursing, social work, physical therapy (DPT), education, biology, chemistry, computer science, and psychology, alongside graduate programs such as MBA, MSW, DPT, and MAE. Its 2025-2026 incoming class enrolled approximately 240 new students drawn from 37 U.S. states, and the university fields 20+ NAIA varsity athletic programs competing in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Clarke holds Higher Learning Commission accreditation, participates in the federal Yellow Ribbon Program for veterans, and recently launched an Exercise Science program in December 2025.

The university's operating model is tuition-driven across multiple streams: undergraduate per-credit tuition, graduate per-credit tuition (MBA, MSW, DPT, DNP, MAE), on-campus room and board, and ancillary summer camp and youth programming fees (e.g., $150 literacy camp, $255 youth basketball camp). Revenue is supplemented by philanthropic gifts — most notably a $5 million donation from alumna Honmai (Lam) '58 and Joseph Goodman used to eliminate student debt, and a $127,000 Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust grant for Nursing Simulation Lab renovations — alongside the 38th Annual Golf Classic raising over $58,000 for student-athletes. The underlying technology stack is standard higher-ed infrastructure: Ellucian Cloud Experience for the student portal (My.Clarke), Moodle for LMS, and CRM systems for admissions and enrollment management. The university offers no proprietary technology products, patents, or software.

Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer through undergraduate and graduate admissions offices, a dedicated Clarke Transfer Center, and international student services, augmented by channel partnerships with all 15 Iowa community colleges (the first private college to achieve this) and a particularly robust partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) covering 10+ articulated transfer majors. The institution uses a multi-channel marketing approach including campus visits, referral programs, social media, community partnerships, and youth summer camps as a feeder pipeline. Customer segments are horizontally structured: traditional undergraduates, transfer students (primary), international students, military veterans/dependents, and adult/non-degree learners — with no single customer or segment representing outsized concentration risk.

Name

Clarke University

Legal name

Clarke University

Website

https://clarke.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1843

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Clarke University is a private nonprofit Catholic university in Dubuque, Iowa, founded in 1843, offering undergraduate and graduate liberal arts, nursing, business, and health science degrees to roughly 240 incoming students annually from across 37 U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH)

Keywords

• Private higher education
• Catholic university
• Liberal arts education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate degree programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubuque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition: Full-time undergraduate students pay tuition for credit hours, with institutional scholarships available based on academic achievement, athletic talent, and fine arts abilities.
2. Graduate Tuition: Graduate programs including MBA, MSW, DPT, and DNP charge tuition per credit hour for enrolled students.
3. Room and Board: On-campus housing and dining services provide additional revenue streams for the university.
4. Summer Camps and Programs: Youth summer camps and programs charge registration fees for various athletic and academic activities.
5. Veteran Education Benefits: The university participates in Yellow Ribbon Program and accepts various VA education benefits including Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, and other military education assistance programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Clarke University is a private Catholic university located in Dubuque, Iowa, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs grounded in the liberal arts tradition. The institution delivers residential and online coursework across multiple academic disciplines, supplemented by athletics, student life services, and summer/youth camps. It serves traditional college-aged students, transfer students, adult learners, and graduate-level professionals.

Product overview

Clarke University is a liberal arts college located in Dubuque, Iowa, offering a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The university provides academic degree programs across disciplines including Business Administration, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work, Physical Therapy, Education, Biology, Chemistry, and Computer Science. Clarke Pride Athletics offers 20+ varsity sports competing in the NAIA. The institution supports students through campus life services including housing, dining, health services, counseling, spiritual life, and career services. Graduate offerings include MBA, MSW, DPT, and MAE degrees. The university maintains transfer partnerships with Iowa community colleges and offers reverse transfer options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs
• Graduate Degree Programs
• Intercollegiate Athletics
• Summer and Youth Camps

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClarke University's most robust community college partnership providing 10 major transfer pathways including Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Elementary Education, History, Mathematics, Psychology, Secondary Education, and Social Work. Includes joint admission, dual enrollment (up to 4 credits per term at NICC rates), and reverse transfer options.
• All 15 Iowa Community CollegescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst private college to partner with all 15 Iowa community colleges, accepting full AA and AS degree transfer majors with guaranteed two-year completion at Clarke. Each community college has articulation agreements in 4-8 transfer majors.
• U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with the US Department of Defense for military education benefits, including Yellow Ribbon Program participation and acceptance of various military training credits through ACE recommendations.
• Veterans AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with state and local Veterans Administration contacts for veteran education benefits, including Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, and related programs. Up to $5,000 Yellow Ribbon matching per year.
• Dubuque Symphony OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership hosting String Camp and Chamber Music Camp for students entering grades 7-12, culminating in performances at DSO events.
• Resurrection SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer Literacy Camp hosted at Resurrection School, led by Clarke University's Education Department, open to students entering grades 1-6 regardless of school affiliation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Direct peers

• Loras College: Fellow private Catholic liberal arts college located in Dubuque, Iowa, operating in the same city with overlapping undergraduate program mix and competing for the same regional student pool. Most directly comparable peer.
• University of Dubuque: Private university in Dubuque, Iowa offering undergraduate and graduate programs including seminary, business, and health sciences. Shares the same primary recruitment market and competes head-to-head for students in eastern Iowa.
• St. Ambrose University: Private Catholic university in Davenport, Iowa with comparable undergraduate/graduate programs, NAIA athletics, and similar enrollment scale. Closest peer in size, faith affiliation, and program breadth within Iowa.
• Mount Mercy University: Private Catholic liberal arts university in Cedar Rapids, Iowa serving similar undergraduate and graduate (MBA, MSW, DNP, EdD) audiences. Competes directly for Iowa-resident students and transfer pathways.
• Briar Cliff University: Small private Catholic university in Sioux City, Iowa offering comparable liberal arts and health-professions programs (Nursing, MSW). Directly comparable in mission, scale, and faith affiliation.
• Wartburg College: Private residential liberal arts college in Waverly, Iowa affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Comparable in residential liberal arts model, NAIA athletics footprint, and small-college enrollment scale.
• Simpson College: Private liberal arts college in Indianola, Iowa with similar undergraduate and select graduate programs. Comparable in size, Iowa location, and tuition-discount dynamics affecting private liberal arts recruitment.
• William Penn University: Private faith-affiliated (Society of Friends) university in Oskaloosa, Iowa with similar enrollment scale and NCAA/NAIA athletic offerings. Directly comparable in mission, market, and operational constraints.
• Buena Vista University: Private liberal arts university in Storm Lake, Iowa with comparable residential model, NCAA athletics, and small-college financial dynamics including tuition dependence. Similar rural Iowa market dynamics.

Regional players

• Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC): Two-year community college in Calmar/Peosta, Iowa and Clarke's most robust transfer partner providing joint admission and dual enrollment. Key feeder institution rather than direct competitor, but illustrates the transfer pathway Clarke leverages.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clarkeu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/ClarkeUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/104865734726
• Instagraminstagram.com/clarkeuniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clarke-university

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clarke University