Home to multiple institutions of higher education, the potential of college to career pipelines is one of the greatest opportunities for the Greater Dubuque region.
Where students meet opportunity.
Each year, thousands of students arrive on college campuses across the Greater Dubuque region, ready to explore careers and make meaningful connections. We create pathways that connect college students with employers, helping businesses build visibility, relationships, and a strong pipeline for the future.
Our college and student outreach initiatives put employers at the center of that experience, offering direct engagement with students through signature events, internship programs, and community-focused outreach, showcasing the many opportunities to build a life and career in our region. We offer powerful ways to meet emerging talent and stand out in a competitive market:
Experiences that inspire students to stay.
Through our AccessDubuqueJobs.com career fairs and engaging off-campus events, the YOU can be great here Community of Colleges series connects students with employers and the community. These events help employers:
Engaging interns beyond the workplace.
Our Talent Dubuque: An Internship Engagement program creates shared experiences that help summer interns see the Greater Dubuque region as a place to live, work, and thrive. Through curated events and community activities, employers can:
Helping students feel at home in the Greater Dubuque region.
Each fall, we partner with the City of Dubuque and local colleges to welcome thousands of students and set the stage for meaningful engagement in our region. Through coordinated letters, digital outreach, and shared messaging, we provide information that supports a smooth transition and encourages students to explore beyond campus.
Our Welcome Students campaign reaches new and returning students as well as their families with helpful resources that introduce them to life in the Greater Dubuque region. These early connections build familiarity with the region’s opportunities and strengthen students’ sense of belonging. For employers, it’s an essential touchpoint that helps cultivate future talent before career exploration even begins.
In 2025, the Welcome Students effort included the delivery of more than 4,200 emails to college students inboxes, over 1,400 letters mailed to first-year and transfer students, and a Community of Colleges proclamation signed by City of Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh at a Dubuque City Council meeting. The Welcome Students campaign is a collaboration between Greater Dubuque Development, the City of Dubuque, Loras College, Emmaus University, the University of Dubuque, Clarke University, Wartburg Theological Seminary, and Northeast Iowa Community College as well as Divine Word College, Capri College, and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
From City of Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh
Created in collaboration with the City of Dubuque, this video message is part of a broader campaign to welcome college students to the Greater Dubuque region each year.