Scholarships for First-Year Students

We offer a variety of scholarships provided to students after a holistic review of their application file. This includes our Endowed Scholarships that are sponsored through generous gifts to the university. While each Endowed Scholarship is unique, they all use one simple application. Then we do the work of matching you to the awards you qualify for!

The following is a list of current awards for full-time first-year undergraduates in the daytime academic program. Merit awards are renewable.

CLARKE ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP

Students are considered for a Clarke Academic Scholarship upon completion of their admissions file. The awards are presented on a range based on cumulative high school GPA at the time of acceptance to Clarke. Awards include:

• $25,000 Foundress Scholarship: 3.75 GPA and above
• $24,000 Presidential Scholarship: 3.5-3.74 GPA
• $23,000 Excellence Scholarship: 3.00-3.49 GPA
• $22,000 Merit Scholarship: 2.99 and below GPA

The renewal requirement is a 2.0 GPA. Clarke Academic scholarships are included in the athletic letters of intent amounts.

ART + DESIGN SCHOLARSHIP

Majors: Art, Art Education, Graphic Design 
Students who intend to major in art, art education, graphic design, will receive an Art + Design Scholarship upon acceptance. Majors are awarded up to $5,000 per year in a renewable scholarship. Interested students must earn acceptance to Clarke by May 1, 2024, for priority consideration. Non-major participants in Art + Design programs are awarded $1,000 per year in a renewable scholarship. Amounts may vary for students receiving athletic scholarships based on the overall Clarke institutional aid offer.

MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP 

Majors: Music and Music Education
Students who intend to major in music, will receive an Music Scholarship upon acceptance. Majors have an opportunity to increase their award through an early ensemble placement date.  Early ensemble placement dates are: February 24, March 23, and April 20.  Non-major participants in music ensembles are awarded $1,000 per year in a renewable scholarship. Amounts may vary for students receiving athletic scholarships based on the overall Clarke institutional aid offer.

CATHOLIC TRADITION AWARD

Clarke’s education is based in the Catholic intellectual tradition. Students who graduated from a high school founded or run by BVM Sisters (Caramel Catholic in Mundelein, IL or Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix, AZ) are considered for a renewable Catholic Tradition Award of $1,000. The renewal requirement is a 2.0 GPA.

CAMPUS MINISTRY AWARD

Students express and interest in volunteering with Clarke Campus Ministry will be awarded $1,000 per year in a renewable scholarship. The renewal requirement is active engagement in Campus Ministry.

PRIDE SCHOLARSHIP

Pride Scholarships may be awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate outstanding athletic ability. Criteria include academic records, recommendations, achievements, and other evidence of the ability to contribute to and benefit from the educational experience at Clarke as a student-athlete. Pride Scholarships are available in the following men’s and women’s sports: basketball, bowling, soccer, golf, lacrosse, track & field, cross country, volleyball, football, cheerleading, dance, esports, baseball, and softball. Please contact the head coach about these awards. The renewal requirement is a 2.0 GPA. 

Note: Pride Scholarships are holistic based awards for student-athletes (see criteria above). Therefore, Pride Scholarship amounts include the Clarke Academic Scholarship Award.

SCHOLARS PROGRAM AWARD 

Students who are granted early access to the Scholarship Program will be awarded $1,000 per year in a renewable scholarship.  The renewal requirement is a 3.2 and active engagement in the Scholars Program.

CLARKE PROMISE 

This incredible initiative offers tuition-free education to eligible Iowans qualifying for the Iowa Tuition Grant and the Pell Grant as they enter Clarke. Additionally, the Clarke Promise is renewable for four years as long as you remain a full-time undergraduate student and live on-campus. The exact amount of the award will vary with each student’s financial situation. 

MOCK TRIAL AND CAST & CREW AWARDS

Students who participate in Cast & Crew (theatre) or Mock Trial will be awarded $1,000 per year in a renewable scholarship. This scholarship may only be paired with one non-theatre Fine Arts award, such as art or music. Students may participate in both programs, but will only be eligible for one award. Learn more

VISIT SCHOLARSHIP

Students who complete in person visits to campus, through the Admissions Office from June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026, may be offered a $1,000 renewable scholarship. This scholarship is included in the Pride Scholarship. 

LEGACY GRANT

Students with a parent, grandparent, sibling (dependent in the household), or spouse who is a Clarke University student or graduate are eligible to receive a Clarke University Legacy Grant of $1,000 towards tuition. Students who are dependent and attend Clarke with a qualifying family member simultaneously are eligible to receive the Legacy Grant. Both family members must be full-time undergraduate students in the daytime academic program. The renewal requirement is a 2.0 GPA. Legacy Grant is stacked on top of the athletic letters of intent amounts.

Note: Referral based scholarships and grants are not stackable. Students may only receive one referral-based award: Legacy Grant or CARE Society Scholarship.

CARE SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP

The Clarke Alumni Referral and Engagement (CARE) Society Scholarship offers a $1,000 renewable scholarship to full-time undergraduate students who are referred to Clarke by an alumna/us or a current full-time Clarke student prior to their acceptance to the University. Alumni who refer a legacy student will still be recognized as part of the CARE Society.  The renewal requirement is a 2.0 GPA. The Care Society scholarship is stacked on top of the athletic letters of intent amounts. Learn more

Note: Referral based scholarships and grants are not stackable. Students may only receive one referral-based award: Legacy Grant or CARE Society Scholarship.

 

SELECT ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS

Endowed scholarships are awards funded through donors. While many are awarded at $1,000 for one year; each has specific eligibility/renewal requirements and amounts as requested by each donor. For priority consideration, eligible candidates must gain acceptance to Clarke by December 15, 2023 (unless the individual award lists a different deadline). Recipients of these scholarships will be awarded funds to use towards their tuition only. All candidates must display a serious desire to complete their education, possess both a reputation and character that would be a credit to Clarke, and have financial need. Click here to apply for an endowed scholarship.

CLARKE CLASSIC SCHOLARSHIP

Students who attend a high school in Clayton, Clinton, Dubuque, Delaware, or Jackson counties in Iowa; Grant or Crawford county in Wisconsin; or Jo Daviess or Carroll county in Illinois are eligible to be considered for the $1,000 renewable Clarke Classic Scholarship. Students who meet the criteria will be sent the scholarship application from the admissions department.

MOIRA JEANNE O’BRIEN DOYLE SCHOLARSHIP

Students who show an appreciation for words, reading, writing, or literature are eligible to be considered for the Moira Jeanne O’Brien Doyle Scholarship. This is a renewable scholarship. Students who meet the criteria will be sent the Clarke Classic Scholarship application from the admissions department. Eligible candidates must apply to Clarke and submit their scholarship application by November 15 for priority consideration.

LOU & RAY BARTELS SCHOLARSHIP

Eligible candidates must be a graduate of Dubuque Senior High School, Dubuque Hempstead High School, or Dubuque Wahlert High School and have average or above-average grades in high school.

JOHN & ALICE BUTLER SCHOLARS AWARD

Eligible candidates show academic potential and maintain average or above-average grades and possess a reputation and character that would be a credit to Clarke. Preference should be given to graduates of The Noble Network of Charter Schools located in Chicago, Illinois, or similar institutions.

MABEL ROONEY & ALOIS HOFFMAN SCHOLARSHIP

Students who are residents of Dubuque County and were involved in extracurricular activities are eligible to receive the Mabel Rooney & Alois Hoffman Scholarship.

PAUL & FRANCES BARNES SCHOLARSHIP

Students who are a resident of Cresco, Iowa, or a graduate of Crestwood High School, are eligible to receive the Paul & Frances Barnes Scholarship.

MARION BINK HARN SCHOLARSHIP

Students who have shown a past commitment to volunteering, with preference given to the residents from the city of Elkader, Iowa, are eligible to receive the Marion Bink Harn Scholarship.

CATHERINE DUNN, BVM, PH.D. SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship will be awarded to minority students who demonstrate leadership in their community, maintain average or above-average grades, and have financial need.

HEIM FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

Students who have shown a past commitment to volunteering, with preference given to the residents in the city of Dubuque, IA, and demonstrate financial need, are eligible to receive the Heim Family Scholarship.

JACQUES FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

Students of African American descent with demonstrated financial need, high potential for successful achievement, and maintain average grades are eligible for the Jacques Family Scholarship.

MARY KENNETH KELLER COMPUTER SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP

Students who intend to major in computer science are eligible to receive the Keller Computer Science Scholarship.

GENTLE KRAUSE SCHOLARSHIP

Eligible candidates must be a resident of the state of Iowa whose mother attended Clarke University.

KATHERINE LAM SCHOLARSHIP

Asian international students from China, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, or an American student of Asian descent will be given priority for this scholarship. If no students from Asia or if Asian descent qualify, other American minority students will be considered. Eligible candidates must also have above-average high school or college grades and financial need.

MCNEILL-HURLEY SCHOLARSHIP

The McNeill-Hurley Scholarship will be awarded to students who maintain average or above-average grades, with special preference given to qualified students from St. Joseph’s Parish or Central Community High School in Elkader, IA, or from Clayton County, IA.

ROBERT E. MOLO SCHOLARSHIP

Robert. E. Molo Scholarship students must be a graduate of Wahlert High School in Dubuque and have average or above-average grades in high school.

LUCILDA O’CONNOR, BVM SCHOLARSHIP

Students who intend to major in Spanish are eligible to receive the Lucilda O’Connor, BVM Scholarship. Eligible candidates must have average or above-average grades in high school.

SISTERS OF CHARITY, BVM ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Students of color who demonstrate high financial need and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 are eligible to receive the BVM Endowed Scholarship.

VERNA SLATTERY MAILANDER SCHOLARSHIP

The Verna Slattery Mailander Scholarship will be awarded to students who maintain average or above-average grades, and who have completed one year of college.

THOMAS AND MARGARET WELCH SCHOLARSHIP

Students of a single living parent who maintain average or above-average grades and have financial need are eligible for this award.

TRACY WEITZEL FABIANO SCHOLARSHIP

Students who have shown a past commitment to volunteering are eligible to receive the Tracy Weitzel Fabiano Scholarship.

Note: All State, Federal, and Clarke awards are restricted to the cost of attendance. Any Clarke institutional aid that brings the total of a student’s institutional financial aid to an amount greater than the cost of tuition may be reduced to keep the total Clarke funds at no more than the cost of tuition.