We are going to walk together through what it is, who makes up its community, what it costs, how difficult it is to get in, and what happens to the students who are already there. By the end, you will have a clear piece of the map. Not the entire route, but a part that can only be found by reading carefully.
What kind of school it is and where it is located
Emmaus Bible College is a private, nonprofit, four-year institution. The federal system classifies it as a bachelor's college with diverse fields and, within that classification, as a very small and highly residential school: at least half of its undergraduate students lived in housing owned by or affiliated with the institution, and at least 80 out of every 100 attended full time, according to the most recent data available for this profile.
That “highly residential” designation matters. It means that if your child attends, they will probably live on campus rather than commute home every afternoon. But keep in mind that living on campus is not the same as paying tuition. Room and board are charged separately and are almost never included together in the same figure in the brochure. Ask for them separately, including the meal plan, before comparing this school with any other school you are considering.
Within its undergraduate profile, it appears in the category the system calls “inclusive”—a label that groups schools that did not report admission scores together with schools whose scores indicated broad access. The data do not say which of the two describes Emmaus, so do not draw a conclusion about selectivity from that label alone.
Geographically, it is in Dubuque, Iowa, within that city's metropolitan area, and its census code places it within a city. That tells you where the point is on the map, not how to get there or how long the trip takes. If your child were considering living at home instead of on campus, the recommendation is simple and practical: drive the route on a weekday at the time their classes would be held. The actual travel time is almost never what the map says.
As for academic level, IPEDS—the federal higher education data system—records the bachelor's degree as the highest level the institution reports offering. That is general institutional information; it does not confirm that the specific major your child is interested in is offered there or that it leads to exactly that degree. Always verify the specific program.
One point is worth clarifying right away: Emmaus Bible College is not recorded as having any of three specific designations tracked by the government—it is not a historically Black college or university, a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. These are three separate labels with distinct histories, and of the 3,012 colleges and universities in this national directory, 138 have at least one of the three. Emmaus having none of them says nothing about which students it serves, how many Latino students are on campus, or how your child would feel there. You can investigate that by asking directly which cultural centers and student organizations currently exist.
A small community and what that means
Here we come to one of the facts that should weigh most heavily in your thinking: size. Emmaus Bible College had a total enrollment of 197 across the entire institution last fall. It is a very small school—the official size category assigned to it is fewer than 1,000 students, and compared with 941 selective-admission, private four-year schools that report this figure, it is among the smallest: at least nine out of ten schools in that group have more students.
All 197 of those students are undergraduates; that count includes no recorded graduate enrollment. It describes enrollment that fall, not necessarily everything the school may offer as programs.
What does a school this small mean for your child? It does not mean the school is better or worse. It means you should ask something very specific: are the courses required for the major offered every semester or only once a year? The answer affects how long it will actually take to finish.
As for who makes up that community: among the undergraduate students reported in the fall of 2023, 5 out of every 100 are Hispanic or Latino. That is a small minority, and among the 941 selective-admission, private four-year schools in this census that report this figure, Emmaus falls in the bottom quarter—three out of four schools in that group reported a larger share of Latino students.
I will tell you directly, without dressing it up: if your child will be one of only a few, that is worth considering. Not because the number makes the school bad—it does not, and a high number would not make it good either—but because feeling like part of a community matters. Ask which student groups and support services currently exist and, if possible, speak with a Latino student who is already there before deciding.
As for the rest of the composition: students ages 25 through 64 are a minority, only 10 out of every 100—so this is mostly a community of young, traditional-age students. The split between men and women is almost even, with women accounting for 54 out of every 100 students. And as for where entering students came from—which states or countries—that information simply was not reported for this school in the most recent cycle. It is not an estimate; it is unavailable.
How the academic year works and what students can study
Emmaus Bible College organizes its academic year into semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. Regarding incoming credit, the institution reported that it accepts credit from AP examinations but did not check the box for credit based on life experience. It also reported accepting credit for military training and enrolling high school students in college courses for credit through a formal dual-enrollment program.
An honest warning here: saying that the school accepts AP does not mean it will award credit for every examination your child takes. These data do not reveal what scores are required, how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits will apply to the specific major your child is interested in. Request the equivalency evaluation in writing before enrolling. Do not budget for savings in time or money until you have it in hand.
As for what students graduate in: in the most recent year reported, Emmaus Bible College awarded 34 bachelor's degrees across 6 fields of study. By far the field with the most degrees was theology and religious vocations, accounting for 14 of the 34—that is 41 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year. Compared with 942 similar schools in this census, Emmaus falls in the quarter with the fewest fields represented in its bachelor's-degree detail.
What does this tell you? It tells you that the school has a concentrated academic identity, but that concentration does not measure quality or its current offerings—it measures the degrees already awarded. With counts this small, the number can change considerably from one year to the next. If your child's interest lies outside theology, ask for the exact number of graduates from that specific major during the past three years, not just the figure for one year.
Regarding faculty attention, Emmaus reports a ratio of 8 students for every full-time-equivalent member of the instructional staff. It is one of the lowest ratios reported in this type of comparison, and among 941 similar schools, it falls in the bottom quarter—its ratio is lower than that of three out of four. But be careful: a low ratio alone does not guarantee small classes. The figure relates students and staff in the abstract; it does not count seats in an actual classroom. Ask directly how many students are in first-year classes for the major your child is interested in.
Finally, the institution reports structured academic pathways in three areas: credit-bearing developmental education, preparation for teacher certification below the postsecondary level, and state approval of the program for initial teacher certification. If your child's interest points toward teaching, this is worth exploring directly with the school.
What admission is like: what they require and how few applicants they reject
There is something I want to tell you very clearly because it changes how your child should invest time and energy: Emmaus Bible College does not have open admission, but it accepts almost everyone who applies.
In the most recent report, the school counted 87 first-time applicants and offered admission to 85. That is 98 out of every 100. We will not compare this figure with those of other schools—with only 87 applicants, the percentage cannot support that kind of comparison, even though the system technically allows it to be calculated. With numbers this small, a handful of decisions can move the figure by several percentage points from one year to the next.
What you can confidently conclude is that your child's energy will be better spent meeting deadlines and carefully completing the application than “competing” for a place. This is not a school where the primary challenge is being told no.
Still, “almost open admission” does not mean “no requirements.” Among the materials the school reviews when making a decision, it marked five as required: the high school record, high school GPA, personal essay, letters of recommendation, and an English proficiency examination for applicants to whom it applies. By contrast, it said it does not consider class rank, whether the applicant completed the college-preparatory coursework the institution requests, a portfolio or competency examination, work experience, or whether a family member attended the school.
Here is the point I want you to remember: simply gathering documents is not enough. The essay is required, so your child has to write. They should start it during the summer, not during the week before the deadline—the first draft is never the one that should be submitted. The undergraduate application fee, by the way, is $0.
Regarding standardized tests, the SAT and ACT are not required. If your child submits them, they are considered; if not, the application proceeds in the same way. Among recently enrolled first-time students, only 10 out of every 100 submitted SAT scores—and that group was so small, fewer than 30 students, that the reported score ranges should not be read as a reliable threshold or a guarantee.
Of those who were admitted, how many actually enrolled? 61 out of every 100. Do not read this as praise or criticism—the figure only counts what other families decided to do after receiving the letter, not how difficult the letter was to obtain. What this number can help you with is this: if your child receives an acceptance, ask that same day when the deposit is due and whether the deadline can be extended while you wait for other admission letters. There is no reason to commit in a rush.
As for students transferring from another college: in the fall of 2023, 14 undergraduates entered Emmaus for the first time after studying at another institution. This is a count of people, not a proportion, and it falls in the bottom half when compared with similar schools. How many credits the school accepted from those transfer students is a question to ask the school directly; this figure does not answer it.
What it costs and what you would actually pay
At Emmaus Bible College, among 5 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $10,720. Among 12 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 through $75,000, it was $12,281; among 3 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $20,491. For dependent students, the band combines their parents' income with their own.
The difference between the average for the lowest-income band, comprising 5 students, and that for the highest-income band, comprising 3 students, is $9,771. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $14,393.
This official average was calculated from a group numbering 5: a cell containing between 1 and 5 students. With so few cases, one person can substantially change the average. Do not use this figure by itself to compare schools or rule this one out; run the net price calculator using your family's information.
None of these figures is a quote for your child. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average for students receiving aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The figure that matters is the aid letter sent to you. In the meantime, use the net price calculator on the school's website.
How common it is to receive aid and how common it is to borrow
Here is one fact worth remembering clearly: at Emmaus Bible College, 91 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received a grant, scholarship, or other aid that does not have to be repaid. Receiving something is common here, not the exception. Among those who did receive something, the annual average was $15,813—but that average covers only recipients, not all students.
In addition, 43 out of every 100 students received a Pell Grant, the federal aid for those who demonstrate financial need. Do not read a high figure as a personal promise: it is what happened to other students in a specific year. Ask in writing which applications must be completed, what the deadlines are, and what happens to the aid if your child's grades decline.
Regarding loans, 25 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal student loan. That is more than two out of ten, but less than half. Among those who did borrow, the annual average was $7,338. Compared with 942 similar schools, students here use federal loans less often than at almost all of them—nine out of ten schools in that group, or more, had a larger share of students with loans.
Some students here make it through the year without debt, while others borrow. This percentage does not determine which group your child would fall into; the financial aid letter sent specifically to your child does. And one important clarification: this average of $7,338 is for only one year and covers only federal loans in the student's name. It does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, debt owed to banks, or credit cards. Nor is it the total debt someone has upon graduation—that would require adding together every year, and that figure is not in this report.
The institution also reports offering an installment tuition payment plan as a way to manage costs over the course of the year.
Campus life, athletics, and support services
Emmaus Bible College does have its own housing. Not all first-time, full-time students are required to live there—the institution reported that they are not—although that does not rule out the possibility that a specific program may require it. It also offers meal plans, with a fixed number of meals per week in the largest plan. The reported maximum housing capacity is 245 students, on or off campus. The existence of housing does not guarantee that a bed will be available for your child: ask in writing for this year's rate, the housing application deadline, and whether a place is guaranteed or your child would be placed on a waiting list.
Regarding ROTC, the institution did not mark any opportunity of this kind in its most recent report—neither the general box nor any of the three military branches. Among the four-year institutions in this guide, 926 out of 1,786 did mark it; Emmaus was not among them. This only reflects what was reported, not necessarily everything that exists. If that scholarship or pathway matters to your family, ask about it directly with admissions before ruling it out.
In athletics, Emmaus does compete at the intercollegiate level and is affiliated with a national athletic association, including the NCCAA. This does not identify the specific sports, how many places are available on each team, or whether any sport offers scholarships. If athletics are part of the plan, write directly to the coach and request the answer in writing.
As for instructional format, Emmaus offers distance education at the undergraduate level. Out of every 100 students, 10 took their entire course load through distance education, and 90 took at least one in-person class. The institution also reported offering at least one program in which all required courses can be completed through distance education—although this information does not confirm the specific level. Confirm the exact format of the major your child is interested in.
The library operates with paid staff, and its annual expenditure exceeded the government-recorded threshold of $100,000. It has physical and digital collections and participates in interlibrary lending. Exceeding that threshold does not guarantee that it has specific databases for your child's major—that is something to ask about by the name of the major.
Finally, the institution reports the following support services: combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and military families, and an officially published web address for services for people with disabilities.
Who stays and who finishes
This is the hardest part of the article, and I am going to state it plainly because you deserve clarity.
Of the cohort of first-time, full-time students who entered in the fall of 2022—a total of 37 people—26 met the official retention criterion: they were still enrolled at Emmaus or had already graduated. That is 70 out of every 100. Among 930 similar schools, Emmaus ranks a little below the group's midpoint. What this figure does not tell you is exactly what happened to the other 30 percent. Not returning is not the same as leaving higher education—a student who transferred to another college and continues studying there is counted the same in this figure as someone who stopped studying entirely.
Regarding graduation, of the 54 first-time, full-time students who entered a bachelor's degree program in 2017, 22 had earned a degree from this school six years later. That is 41 out of every 100. At the four-year mark, the figure falls to 33 out of every 100. Among 920 similar schools, Emmaus falls in the bottom quarter—three out of four schools in that group, or more, graduated a larger share of their cohort.
Put plainly: after six years, the split is almost even between those who earned a degree there and those who did not. The report counts outcomes, not the reasons behind each person's story. Before deciding, it is worth asking directly what specific support the school provides to help a student finish and how long the specific major your child is interested in actually takes.
There is also a broader figure covering an eight-year window: from a cohort of 92 students who entered between July 2015 and June 2016, 77 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this school as of August 2023. Among Pell Grant recipients, the figure rises to 83 out of every 100—9 points above the group that did not receive Pell. That is positive news, but it is also old news: it describes a cohort that entered almost a decade ago and does not predict your child's outcome. It is worth asking about the outcomes of more recent cohorts and the program's current support services.
How this fits into your decision
You now know one real part of Emmaus Bible College: a small school with an identity strongly centered on theology, admission that almost never results in rejection, a published cost of $31,500 that falls considerably with aid—the majority of students receive something—and graduation outcomes that, honestly, sit around the middle of the distribution among similar schools.
This is only one of the three pieces you need to build a complete plan. What remains is what your child wants to study and what they have already built along their academic path. Also missing is what your family can and is willing to pay, something you will know with certainty only when the financial aid letter bearing your child's name arrives.
If you live near Dubuque and living at home is a real possibility, drive the route before deciding. If your child's intended major is not theology, ask for the number of graduates from that specific major during the past three years, not just the overall figure. If money is the central concern—and it almost always is—complete the FAFSA, run the net price calculator, and wait for the letter before ruling out or committing to this school.
None of these numbers makes the decision for you. You now have something you did not have before reading this: the part of the map that belongs to the college. Combine it with your child's voice and your household finances. A plan that is truly yours grows out of that combination.
Source note: the information in this article comes from official data from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and the United States Department of Education, primarily from the 2022-23 and 2023-24 reports. Best College Aid does not represent Emmaus Bible College or any government agency; this piece is an independent informational guide.