The University of Dubuque is one of the best small, private Christian universities offering undergraduate, graduate, and theological seminary degrees. The University is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA. 

Located in Iowa, the University houses over 2,385 students. The Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education along with the Iowa Association of Colleges for Teacher Education grants institutional membership to the university. 

Rankings

  • According to US News and World Reports, the University of Dubuque stands at #95 in the 2023 edition of Best Colleges in Regional Universities Midwest. 
  • The Times Higher Education ranks DU >600th in 2023 for Universities in the USA.

Highlights

Year of Establishment 1852
Location Dubuque, Iowa
Type of University Private
Campus Setting Urban
Established 1852
Total Student Enrollment (Fall 2018) 2,385
International Students 2,500 International Graduates 
Annual Acceptance Rate 76%
Academic Calendar Semester-based 
Basic Tuition Fee (UG International) 35,060 USD/ year
Basic Tuition Fee (PG International) 735 USD per credit hour
Test Scores Accepted ACT/SAT, TOEFL/IELTS
Campus Housing Available
Official Website dbq.edu

Programs, Faculties, And Divisions

The University of Dubuque offers students undergraduate and graduate programs in various study fields. 

  • The university offers Associate of Science and Associate of Arts along with various Bachelor degrees such as Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
  • With over 34 UG majors and several minors in study areas ranging from business, computer science, education, economics, etc.
  • The university also offered six master programs such as Master of Arts in Communication, Master of Business Administration and Master in Management in Aviation Leadership, Communication Management, Organizational Diversity & inclusion Leadership, and Sport Management. 
  • The university also offers a special MBA that is designed only for Asian students who want to study at a college in America. 

Campus and Housing Facilities

The University of Dubuque has one main Dubuque campus, in Iowa. Along with the Charles C. Myers library, it houses residential and dining halls. It also includes an office of technology, career services, a wellness center and disability access amongst others.

The University of Dubuque has three main residence halls for UG students while six apartment complexes for upperclassmen students.

  • Aitchison Hall has two female and male floors along with a common lounge. Located towards the north, it is adjacent to Peters Commons. 
  • Cassat Hall is located near one of the Wellness Centres and other athletic fields. There is a co-ed hall dedicating one floor for women and the other three for men.
  • Chlapaty Hall is the newest residence hall for sophomores. It incorporates 11 pods which include 7 double bedrooms.
  • Donnell Hall is one of the freshman halls on campus. Located near the Chlapaty Hall, it has a similar living arrangement as that of Cassat Hall.
  • Park Village consists of six apartment buildings, three apartments host three floors while the other three contain four floors. They are built only for upper-class UG students. 
  • The Seminary Townhouse consists of thirty-two 3 to 4 bedrooms, they are also equipped with a refrigerator, an electric stove, dishwasher, air conditioner, and a one-car garage. It houses seminary students, graduate students, and a few undergraduate students.

Dining Services

The dining services include a Full Meal Plan A, Standard Meal Plan B, Minimum Meal Plan C, and Commuter Meal Plan D. They differ based on meals per semester ranging from 75 to 280 and costs running from 1,095 USD to 2,610 USD, respectively. The University also provides an online catering management system to custom menus for special occasions. 

Application Process

Application: All International UG applications are made through the online application portal or Common Application. The applications for Graduate programs are also submitted through the online portal.

Application Fee: An application fee of 25 USD is applicable for both bachelor's and master’s degrees.

Application Deadline:

Admission Requirements: Applicants wishing to be considered for admission to the University of Dubuque must submit the following for review: 

  • A completed application for admission
  • An essay
  • Secondary school report
  • Two teachers/professor evaluations
  • Scores of standardized exams to study in the USA- ACT or SAT test results 
  • English proficiency scores- TOEFL or IELTS
Exam Minimum Required Scores
TOEFL 500 PBT
61 iBT
IELTS 5.0
  • Official transcripts submitted directly by the high school/college(s) or other educational institutions attended 
  • A personal interview with a college admission counselor

Cost of Attendance

Undergraduate Costs for the 2023-24 Academic Year: The estimated expenses to be incurred by an undergraduate student at the university for 2023-24 are:

Expenses Annual Fee (in USD)
Tuition 35,060
Student Fee 1,550
Room (Double Occupancy) 5,300
Board (Standard Meal Plan) 5,200
Orientation Fee (once) 100
Books 950
Other Expenses(Transportation, personal expenses, etc.) 1,500

Tuition Fee for the graduate program at the university: The tuition fee for the graduate program at the university is 735 USD per credit hour. The total program fee has been listed below:

Program Total Credit Hours Total Program Fee (in USD)
Master of Arts in Communication 30 credits 22,050 
Master of Business Administration 36 credits 26,460 
Masters in Management 30 credits 22,050

Scholarships And Financial Aids

The University of Dubuque offers several financial aid options. These include various state federal grants, academic merit-based scholarships, private loans, as well as student employment. 

International students are not eligible for federal aid and can therefore apply for various merit-based scholarships at the university. Some of the merit-based scholarships include:

Scholarship Criteria Scholarship Amount (in USD)
Heritage Society Scholarship cumulative high school GPA of 3.8 15,000
Presidential Scholarship cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 12,000
Dean’s Merit Scholarship cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 8,000
Forerunner Award cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 6,000

International students can also apply for various international scholarships or education loans to finance their education in the USA at the University of Dubuque. These scholarships are awarded by the private organizations or the education ministry in respective home countries. 

Alumni Network

The alumni are presented with a few awards for their exemplary contributions, such as the Manning Award, Athletics Award, and several Achievement Awards. Some of the notable alumni are: 

  • Tony Danza, American Actor; 
  • Walter Soboleff, religious scholar; 
  • Richard Aborn, President of the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City