Clarke University acceptance rate and admissions profile
Clarke University is a private college in Iowa that admits most qualified applicants (around 72%), which puts it in the moderately selective range. A rate like this means it admits more applicants than it rejects; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.
Use this page to see what Clarke University weighs, where it ranks among Iowa schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1120, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
Will I get into Clarke University?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Clarke University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into Clarke University?
At Clarke University, your real chance depends on far more than the published 72% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Clarke University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is Clarke University hard to get into?
Clarke University is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 72% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
What GPA do you need to get into Clarke University?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at Clarke University, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. Clarke University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
What SAT score do you need for Clarke University?
Clarke University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1120. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Clarke University.
What Clarke University looks for
What Clarke University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
Clarke University signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Clarke University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at Clarke University
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.
How Clarke University compares in Iowa
Clarke University ranks #9 most selective of 21 schools in Iowa in our database.
Among the 21 Iowa schools we track, Clarke University ranks #9 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Grinnell College (15%) and William Penn University (52%) sit nearby, which makes Iowa a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.
Similar to Clarke University
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
If Clarke University is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Canisius University, Quinnipiac University, and Stetson University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What does Clarke University value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, Clarke University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does Clarke University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?
Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Clarke University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.
How can I improve my chances at Clarke University?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Clarke University specifically.
Is Clarke University test-optional?
Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm Clarke University's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1120; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.
Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.