Colleges › Iowa › University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque admits nearly everyone — 88.6% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether University of Dubuque is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
University of Dubuque sits in Dubuque proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The school maintains its Presbyterian Church (USA) affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Air Transportation, where graduates median $86,081 four years out. Faculty pay averages $90,708 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 1,440 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 76.6% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 950 and 1160 — below the IA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Dubuque's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 950–1160 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, University of Dubuque's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 470 | 530 | 580 |
| SAT Math | 480 | 530 | 580 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 23 | 25 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Dubuque received 1,560 applications and admitted 1,356 (86.9%), with 325 enrolling.
How University of Dubuque compares
| University of Dubuque | Iowa median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 88.6% | 80.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $42,095 | $36,684 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $51,190 | $55,396 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, University of Dubuque's median earnings are $51,190 — below the Iowa benchmark of $55,396. Weigh that against the $42,095 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
University of Dubuque lists tuition at $42,095 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. University of Dubuque's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $42,095 as the ceiling, not the bill.
With 1,440 undergraduates, University of Dubuque is small enough that class size and faculty access are structural, not marketing claims.
40.1% graduate within six years. Roughly 60% don't — ask a University of Dubuque tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at University of Dubuque
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Air Transportation | $86,081 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $73,710 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $64,648 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $63,655 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $63,082 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $62,918 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $53,514 |
| Marketing | $53,011 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $52,578 |
| Sociology | $51,512 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $48,537 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $46,296 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $45,721 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $42,296 |
Median earnings for these 14 University of Dubuque programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $51,190 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 21 additional University of Dubuque programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Dubuque?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 950–1160 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 88.6% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Dubuque's acceptance rate?
86.9% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,356 admitted from 1,560 applicants.
How much does University of Dubuque cost?
At University of Dubuque, published tuition is $42,095 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is University of Dubuque's ceiling, not a quote.
What do University of Dubuque graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $51,190 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Iowa
- Grand View University — 99.1% admitted
- Central College — 86.2% admitted
- Iowa State University — 88.7% admitted
- Loras College — 99.9% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.