Scholarships for Transfers

We offer a variety of scholarships provided to students after a holistic review of their application file. The following is a list of current awards for full-time first-year undergraduates in the daytime academic program. Merit awards are renewable.

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

CLARKE TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIP

Students transferring to Clarke, completing a second degree at Clarke, completing teacher certification, or returning to Clarke after a semester away, are awarded a Clarke Transfer Scholarship of $19,500 upon acceptance as an undergraduate, full-time, daytime student. Recipients must have college credit beyond receiving a high school diploma or equivalent (also beyond the summer directly after high school graduation). Clarke Academic scholarship is included in the athletic letters of intent amounts.

PHI THETA KAPPA

Transfer students with membership in Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society (PTK) will be awarded a renewable Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship of $22,500. This award REPLACES the student’s Clarke Transfer Scholarship. This award is given once proof of membership is confirmed. The renewal requirement is a 2.0 GPA. Phi Theta Kappa scholarship amount above is recognized for Student Athletes, who have the PTK designation, by an additional $500 scholarship added to any letter of intent amount.

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 $2,000. The renewal requirement is a 2.0 GPA.

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. Art + Design Scholarships are included in the athletic letters of intent amounts.

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. Music scholarships are included in the athletic letters of intent amounts.

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.

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 considerations for traditional awards: Clarke Academic Scholarship or the Catholic Tradition Award.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AWARD

Students transferring to Clarke directly from a partnered community college are awarded a $2,000 Community Partnership Award. The renewal requirement is a 2.0 GPA. Community Partnership Award is included in the athletic letters of intent amounts.

NICC TRIO-SSS PROGRAM

Transfer Students participating in TRiO-Student Support Services at Northeast Iowa Community College are awarded a renewable $1,000 scholarship from Clarke University once participation is confirmed. SECOND DEGREE SCHOLARSHIP. The renewal requirement is a 2.0 GPA. Community Partnership Award is included in the athletic letters of intent amounts.

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. The Legacy Grant is stacked on athletic letter of intent amounts.

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

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. Theses awards are stacked on athletic letter of intent amounts. Learn more

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 included in the athletic letters of intent amounts.  Learn more

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

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. 

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, 2022 (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.

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.