Davenport is one of the Quad Cities, four river towns split between Iowa and Illinois, and St. Ambrose University has taught there since 1882. It's a Catholic university of a few thousand students, with small classes and a strong line-up in health sciences such as physical and occupational therapy. International students most often come for business, engineering and the MBA.
Davenport, Iowa, United States
Official website: sau.edu
1882
Private Catholic university
Davenport, Iowa
Quad Cities on the Mississippi
$30,000 – $38,000
International undergraduates; graduate tuition is usually lower
$11,000 – $14,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on sau.edu before you apply.
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
Master of Organizational Leadership
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BS Mechanical Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
BS Industrial Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
Physical and occupational therapy programmes with a strong regional reputation.
Small classes taught by faculty rather than teaching assistants.
A Catholic campus in a mid-sized river city.
Engineering graduates look to manufacturers such as John Deere, headquartered across the river in Moline.
Business graduates find roles in banking, insurance and manufacturing around the Quad Cities.
STEM graduates can apply for extended OPT.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
The campus is in a residential part of central Davenport, with brick buildings around a small green. Most undergraduates live on campus.
The Quad Cities have around 400,000 people, riverfront bike trails and a minor-league ballpark on the Mississippi. Costs are low, and Chicago is about three hours east by car.
Form I-20 issued by St. Ambrose University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
St. Ambrose admits on a rolling basis. International students should apply by about June for fall or November for spring. Physical and occupational therapy follow their own, earlier timelines.
Most programmes begin in fall (late August) and spring (January). A few graduate courses start in summer.
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from St. Ambrose University first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
Business, engineering, computer science and the MBA are the usual choices for international students. Undergraduates need a secondary school diploma and IELTS 6.0 or equivalent; graduate programmes need a bachelor's degree and usually IELTS 6.5.
International undergraduates are considered for merit scholarships at admission, and these can cover a good part of the published tuition. Graduate awards are fewer, though some programmes offer assistantships.
