University of Dubuque
- Graduation Rate
- 41% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $51,190 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $23,386 D+
- 36% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 89% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 12.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $12.7 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $12.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,098,137.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 26% above the national college median.
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Graduation of 41% — 29% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $12.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of Dubuque Matters
University of Dubuque is a private university in Dubuque, IA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,440
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 66
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Transportation, Health Professions, Education
Why students choose University of Dubuque
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 89% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 980–1220. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $23,386 a year after grants and scholarships — 36% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $51,190 ten years after enrolling — 26% above the typical college, against $25,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.55 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Forty-one percent of students at the University of Dubuque graduate within six years. This figure reflects the challenges many students face in completing their degrees. With an acceptance rate of 89%, the university is open to a wide range of applicants, making it accessible for those seeking higher education.
The earnings data show that graduates can expect to earn an average of $51,190 within a decade of finishing their studies. While the mobility rate is not available, the university serves a significant number of students who receive Pell Grants, indicating a commitment to supporting low-income students. This financial assistance can be crucial in helping students achieve their educational goals.
At a net price of $23,386 and a median debt of $25,750, students should carefully consider their financial situation. Graduates from programs in Business & Marketing, Transportation, Health Professions, Education, and Criminal Justice tend to thrive here. Those who succeed often have a clear focus on their career paths and utilize the university's resources effectively.
Rankings
- #11 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Iowa
- #19 Best Computer Science Colleges in Iowa
- #19 Best Data Science Colleges in Iowa
- #22 Best Psychology Colleges in Iowa
- #23 Best Biology Colleges in Iowa
- #26 Best Bachelor's Programs in Iowa
- #26 Best Education Colleges in Iowa
- #27 Best Master's Programs in Iowa
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Dubuque is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Dubuque? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Dubuque, Iowa, University of Dubuque admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 89%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,110. The graduation rate is roughly 41%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- SAT Average
- 1110
- SAT Range
- 980–1220
- ACT Range
- 18–24
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,559
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.49
- First-Gen Students
- 36%
- Applicants
- 1,579
- Admitted
- 1,343
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Dubuque? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Dubuque is $42,095, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,386. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,106 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $42,095
- Out-of-State
- $42,095
- Avg Net Price
- $23,386
- Median Debt
- $25,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 40%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 70%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $18,106
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $19,318
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,480
- Family Income $110K+
- $25,908
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Dubuque — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Dubuque Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Dubuque earn a median of $51,190, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $44,960
- 8 Years
- $51,123
- 10 Years
- $51,190
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.5x
- Earning > $25K
- 68%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (160)
- 36%
- 100% (160)
- 36%
- 100% (160)
- 36%
- 100% (160)
- 36%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Dubuque Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Dubuque delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $23,386/year ($93,544 total). Graduates earn $51,190 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,191,681 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,098,137 (12.7× your investment). The median debt is $25,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 41% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $93,544
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,191,681
- Net Return
- $1,098,137
- ROI Multiple
- 12.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $23,386
- Median Debt
- $25,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 41%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $7,854,812
- Investment Income
- $4,583,612
Top Programs
The fields University of Dubuque awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 19% $57,547 early-career
- Transportation 17% $52,040 early-career
- Health Professions 10% $68,105 early-career
- Education 10% $47,685 early-career
- Criminal Justice 8% $42,420 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6% $36,304 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $44,852 early-career
- Psychology 5%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Dubuque's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Dubuque? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Dubuque, Iowa, University of Dubuque admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 89%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,110. The graduation rate is roughly 41%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Dubuque? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Dubuque is $42,095, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,386. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,106 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,750 in federal student loans.
Is University of Dubuque Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Dubuque earn a median of $51,190, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is University of Dubuque? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Dubuque. Its economic connectedness score is 1.55, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Dubuque.
- Newberry CollegeNewberry, SC · Close peer45% grad $48,040 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Nelson UniversityWaxahachie, TX · Close peer39% grad $46,238 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of BridgeportBridgeport, CT · Close peer45% grad $50,323 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Methodist UniversityFayetteville, NC · Close peer42% grad $48,050 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Carlow UniversityPittsburgh, PA · Close peer58% grad $51,051 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Carson-Newman UniversityJefferson City, TN · Close peer50% grad $48,382 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Dubuque? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Dubuque. Its economic connectedness score is 1.55, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note