Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 63/100

Briar Cliff University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Sioux City, Iowa

About Briar Cliff University

Briar Cliff University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Sioux City, Iowa. It enrolls 624 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Graduation
35.1%
Net Price
$23,907
Median Earnings (10yr)
$54,475
Enrollment
624
Student : Faculty
12:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 59
Value 34
Affordability 46
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for Briar Cliff University.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Briar Cliff University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $23,907 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$23,907
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
53%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
48%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$36,956
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,518
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,648
Books & Supplies
$2,182
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$7,684
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,684
Total Cost of Attendance
$51,493

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $17,764
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $14,604
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $25,516
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $30,156
  • Over $110,000
    $27,328

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$4,750
10% percentile
$7,500
25% percentile
$23,250
Median percentile
$25,800
75% percentile
$33,481
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $17,596 ↓ $5,654
No Pell $12,000 ↓ $11,250
Dependent students $15,000 ↓ $8,250
Independent students $18,223 ↓ $5,027
Female students $16,837 ↓ $6,413
Male students $15,000 ↓ $8,250
Pell recipients: 18.6% (4,322 students)No Pell: 12.7% (2,948 students)Dependent students: 15.8% (3,684 students)Independent students: 19.3% (4,476 students)Female students: 17.8% (4,136 students)Male students: 15.8% (3,684 students)Overall Median$23,250
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,125, less than completers ($23,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

35% of full-time students who enrolled at Briar Cliff University graduate within six years, and 62% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
35%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
62%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Briar Cliff University earn a median of $54,475 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$54,475
Earning > $25K
82%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$47,000$49,000$51,000$53,000$55,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$41,300

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$49,100

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$39,500

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$42,600

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$49,200

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $7,800, about 16% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 12.9 pts across 6 years
79%1yr82.3%3yr87.8%5yr91.9%7yr
What this signals: Excellent. 92% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Briar Cliff University is home to 624 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
624
Part-Time
10%
First-Generation
36%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 58.7% 366
Hispanic 14.9% 93
International 12.5% 78
Black 7.4% 46
Other 5.6% 35
Asian 0.8% 5
White: 58.7% (366 students)Hispanic: 14.9% (93 students)International: 12.5% (78 students)Black: 7.4% (46 students)Other: 5.6% (35 students)Asian: 0.8% (5 students)Total624

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Briar Cliff University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Small City Sioux City, Iowa
Housing
Mostly residential 383 beds on campus
Adult Learners
11% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Briar Cliff University offers a varied set of programs: 31 distinct programs across 18 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

6 Programs
5 Programs
3 Programs
1 Program
1 Program
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Briar Cliff University is 12:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$27M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$63,621
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

59 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 7 12% $108,104
Associate Professors 18 31% $57,044
Assistant Professors 31 53% $57,420
Instructors 3 5% $63,372

Pros & Cons of Briar Cliff University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Briar Cliff University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Solid post-graduation earnings
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
  • Above-average net price
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
Best for: Based on the data, Briar Cliff University is a fit for students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Briar Cliff University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Briar Cliff University.

How much does Briar Cliff University cost?
The average net price after aid at Briar Cliff University is $23,907 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Briar Cliff University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,475 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,907 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Briar Cliff University known for?
Briar Cliff University is best known for its programs in Rehabilitation, Nursing, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Briar Cliff University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Briar Cliff University are $54,475, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Briar Cliff University accredited?
Yes. Briar Cliff University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Briar Cliff University?
Briar Cliff University enrolls 624 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Briar Cliff University?
Briar Cliff University graduates 35% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Briar Cliff University a public or private college?
Briar Cliff University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Briar Cliff University located?
Briar Cliff University is located in Sioux City, Iowa.
What programs does Briar Cliff University offer?
Briar Cliff University offers 31 distinct programs. The most popular include Rehabilitation, Nursing, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Briar Cliff University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Briar Cliff University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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