Rev. Tom Ascheman, President | Divine Word College
Rev. Tom Ascheman, President | Divine Word College
Data shows that students paid $35,520 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $1,635 more than the previous school year.
Among the six institutions in the county, the University of Dubuque stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $38,526. Clarke University followed with an average of $38,060 per year. Divine Word College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $14,620.
At the time, at least $21.8 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Dubuque County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $6.2 million.
Currently there are six higher education institutions in Dubuque County, including Clarke University, Divine Word College, and Capri College-Dubuque.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
| Institution | Number of Students Receiving Grants | Total Amount of Grants Received | Average Amount of Grant Per Student | Number of Students Receiving Loans | Total Amount of Loans Received | Average Amount of Loans Per Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divine Word College | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Loras College | 286 | $7,444,498 | $26,030 | 183 | $1,614,034 | $8,820 |
| University of Dubuque | 315 | $8,148,382 | $25,868 | 219 | $2,572,725 | $11,748 |
| Emmaus Bible College | 43 | $699,769 | $16,274 | 14 | $93,500 | $6,679 |
| Capri College-Dubuque | 50 | $251,474 | $5,029 | 56 | $341,999 | $6,107 |
| Clarke University | 193 | $5,253,201 | $27,219 | 147 | $1,598,378 | $10,873 |
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