University of Dubuque vs. Iowa

Should I go to University of Dubuque or University of Iowa? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Dubuque or Iowa 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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University of Dubuque vs. University of Iowa comparison
University of Dubuque University of Iowa College 3 College 4
University of Dubuque University of Iowa
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Overview

University of Dubuque Iowa
Location Dubuque, IA Iowa City, IA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 1,795 30,042
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #711 #225
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website dbq.edu uiowa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Dubuque Iowa
Tuition (In State) $38,260 $9,016
Tuition (Out of State) $38,260 $30,979
Room & Board $11,470 $12,616
Avg Net Price $25,216 $20,121
Avg Grant Aid $25,868 $9,512
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 74%

Admission

University of Dubuque Iowa
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,560 25,682
Admitted 1,356 21,746
Acceptance Rate 86.9% 84.7%
Enrolled % 24% 23.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.24 3.81
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 22/28
SAT Range 950/1160 1130/1320
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

University of Dubuque Iowa
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Transportation and Materials Moving (15%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

University of Dubuque Iowa
Graduation Rate 41% 71%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $59,800
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,674 $21,616
Median Loan Payment $265 $223

Diversity

University of Dubuque Iowa
% Men 7% 12%
% Women 10% 14%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 63% 67%
% Black 14% 3%
% Hispanic 9% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 12%
% Unknown Race 6% 4%

Students

University of Dubuque Iowa
% In-State 25% 52%
% Out-of-State 69% 46%

Campus

University of Dubuque Iowa
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Iowa is larger than than University of Dubuque based on total student enrollment (30,042 students vs. 1,795 students)

University of Dubuque vs. Iowa Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Dubuque or Iowa?

  • University of Dubuque is 324.4% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($38,260.00 vs. $9,016.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 23.5% higher at University of Dubuque than University of Iowa ($38,260.00 vs. $30,979.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Iowa than University of Dubuque ($20,121 vs. $25,216)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Dubuque are 10% lower than costs at University of Iowa ($11,470 vs. $12,616)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Dubuque than University of Iowa (100% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Dubuque students is 172% larger than aid received University of Iowa ($25,868 vs. $9,512)

University of Dubuque vs. Iowa Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Iowa (1164) is 220 points higher than at University of Dubuque (944)
  • Incoming Iowa students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at University of Dubuque (20)
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.57 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at University of Dubuque (3.24)
  • University of Dubuque has a higher acceptance rate (86.9%) than Iowa (84.7%)

University of Dubuque vs. Iowa Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Dubuque or Iowa? 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 Iowa and University of Dubuque.

  • The graduation rate at Iowa is higher than University of Dubuque (71% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $18,000 more per year than University of Dubuque graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $41,800)
  • University of Iowa students graduate with a $4,058 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Dubuque graduates. ($21,616 vs. $25,674)
  • Iowa graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than University of Dubuque graduates. ($223 vs. $265)
  • More Iowa graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Dubuque students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 63%)

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