Clarke University vs Olivet Nazarene University
Clarke University and Olivet Nazarene University, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Clarke University, a private Catholic university in Dubuque, Iowa, boasts a 90% acceptance rate, welcoming a diverse student body of over 1,200 undergraduates. Olivet Nazarene University, a private Christian university in Bourbonnais, Illinois, has a slightly lower acceptance rate of 86% and a larger undergraduate population of over 2,000 students. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at Clarke including Business Administration, Elementary Education, and Psychology, while Olivet Nazarene is known for its strong programs in Business, Nursing, and Christian Ministries. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about the differences in tuition, graduation rates, and other key factors that can help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
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![]() Clarke University |
![]() Olivet Nazarene University |
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Overview |
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Location | Dubuque, Iowa | Bourbonnais, Illinois |
Campus setting | City: Small | Suburb: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 65.0% | 78.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | Evangelical |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 88.8% | 60.6% |
Application fees | $25 | |
SAT range | 900 - 1120 | 970 - 1200 |
ACT range | 19 - 23 | 19 - 26 |
Students submitting SAT score | 8.0% | 39.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 21.0% | 26.0% |
Total number of applicants | 2,006 | 5,881 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,781 | 3,561 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 183 | 661 |
Yield rate | 10.3% | 18.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $52,241 | $51,840 |
Average net price | $25,414 | $20,431 |
Tuition | $35,740 | $36,450 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,900
Meal plan:
$5,500
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$9,490 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $23,968 |
100.0%
Average amount $28,396 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
81.0%
Average amount $8,599 |
78.0%
Average amount $5,436 |
Students taking out private loans |
27.0%
Average amount $12,203 |
11.0%
Average amount $12,187 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
717
Men 54.5% Women 45.5% |
2,643
Men 42.6% Women 57.4% |
Graduate students |
171
Men 22.2% Women 77.8% |
819
Men 23.0% Women 77.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 4.6% | 1.3% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Suburb: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 536 | 2,479 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 8:1 | 15:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 54.5% | 63.8% |
Dropout rate | 6.2% | 35.9% |
Transferred out | 39.3% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Education, Other (Doctoral Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
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