Clarke University vs. Purdue Northwest

Should I go to Clarke University or Purdue University Northwest? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Clarke University or Purdue Northwest is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Clarke University vs. Purdue University Northwest comparison
Clarke University Purdue University Northwest College 3 College 4
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Overview

 Clarke University Purdue Northwest
Location Dubuque, IA Hammond, Indiana
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,025 8,679
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #395
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clarke.edu pnw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Clarke University Purdue Northwest
Tuition (In State) $38,400 $7,594
Tuition (Out of State) $38,400 $14,795
Room & Board $11,000 $9,097
Avg Net Price $25,692 $9,637
Avg Grant Aid $27,219 $6,420
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 85%

Admission

 Clarke University Purdue Northwest
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,087 6,394
Admitted 2,104 4,516
Acceptance Rate 68.2% 70.6%
Enrolled % 9.5% 26.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.19
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 18/26 16/25
SAT Range 890/1045 920/1140
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

 Clarke University Purdue Northwest
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Human Services (6%)

Outcomes

 Clarke University Purdue Northwest
Graduation Rate 60% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,800 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 74% -
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 N/A
Median Loan Payment $268 N/A

Diversity

 Clarke University Purdue Northwest
% Men 5% 4%
% Women 10% 5%
Racial Diversity Very Low -
HBCU No No
% White 85% 0%
% Black 4% 0%
% Hispanic 7% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

 Clarke University Purdue Northwest
% In-State 30% 80%
% Out-of-State 60% 14%

Campus

 Clarke University Purdue Northwest
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Purdue University Northwest is larger than than Clarke University based on total student enrollment (8,679 students vs. 1,025 students)

Clarke University vs. Purdue Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarke University or Purdue Northwest?

  • Clarke University is 405.7% more expensive to attend than Purdue Northwest for in-state tuition ($38,400.00 vs. $7,594.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 159.5% higher at Clarke University than Purdue University Northwest ($38,400.00 vs. $14,795.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Northwest than Clarke University ($9,637 vs. $25,692)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Northwest are 20.9% lower than costs at Clarke University ($9,097 vs. $11,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarke University than Purdue University Northwest (100% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarke University students is 324% larger than aid received Purdue University Northwest ($27,219 vs. $6,420)

Clarke University vs. Purdue Northwest Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clarke University or Purdue Northwest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue Northwest or Clarke University .

  • Accepted freshman Clarke University students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Purdue Northwest (3.19)
  • Purdue Northwest has a higher acceptance rate (70.6%) than Clarke University (68.2%)

Clarke University vs. Purdue Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clarke University or Purdue Northwest? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Purdue Northwest and Clarke University.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/