Briar Cliff University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Briar Cliff University is a private research university in Sioux City, Iowa, enrolling about 624 students. Briar Cliff University awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $36,956 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $54,475 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $36,956
- 2024 Average Net Price: $23,907 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 624 90.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 47.51%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
- First-Generation Students: 36.4%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 5.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 62.6%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 796
- Room & Board: $11,518 annual estimate
Briar Cliff University: what the data shows
Common questions about Briar Cliff University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Briar Cliff University?
Briar Cliff University is located in Sioux City, IA (ZIP 51104).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Briar Cliff University public or private?
Briar Cliff University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Briar Cliff University cost?
Published tuition: $36,956.
Average net price after aid: $23,907.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $17,764 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $14,604 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $25,516 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $30,156 |
| $110,001+ | $27,328 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $147,824.
How big is Briar Cliff University?
Total enrollment: 624 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 796 students.
Graduate enrollment: 181 students.
About 90% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Briar Cliff University?
150%-time completion rate: 47.51%.
First-year retention: 64.2%.
What do graduates of Briar Cliff University earn?
Median earnings: $48,338 six years after entry; $54,475 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $23,250.
53.18% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Briar Cliff University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (41 completions)
- Physical Therapy/Therapist (27 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (25 completions)
- Family Practice Nurse/Nursing (16 completions)
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology (13 completions)
- Social Work (13 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (11 completions)
- Psychology, General (10 completions)
- Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology (9 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (8 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Briar Cliff University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 47.51%; median earnings $54,475 at 10 years; net price $23,907. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$36,956
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Briar Cliff University was $36,956.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$23,907
2024 Value
In 2024 Briar Cliff University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $23,907.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$95,628 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$23,907 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$147,824 4-Year Tuition
$11,518 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$2,182 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$50,656 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$202,624 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Briar Cliff University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
53.18% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
48.09% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Briar Cliff University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Briar Cliff University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $26,650 | $26,650 | $19,000 |
| 2014 | $27,202 | $27,202 | $17,894 |
| 2015 | $28,090 | $28,090 | $17,465 |
| 2016 | $28,788 | $28,788 | $18,496 |
| 2017 | $29,786 | $29,786 | $22,566 |
| 2018 | $30,970 | $30,970 | $18,336 |
| 2019 | $32,202 | $32,202 | $20,604 |
| 2020 | $33,308 | $33,308 | $22,212 |
| 2021 | $33,998 | $33,998 | $21,002 |
| 2022 | $34,498 | $34,498 | $20,554 |
| 2023 | $35,534 | $35,534 | $21,590 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Briar Cliff University reported total enrollment of about 624 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 54% male and 46% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (58.7%), Hispanic or Latino (14.9%), and Non-Resident Alien (12.5%). About 53.18% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 36.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
90.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Briar Cliff University in 2024 is 624 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 796 students. Graduate enrollment is about 181 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
64.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 58.7%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
35.91% 100% Completion Time
47.51% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 35.91% of students graduating from Briar Cliff University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 61% male / 39% female
- Physical Therapy/Therapist: 41% male / 59% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 16% male / 84% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Briar Cliff University.
Return on Investment
$23,250 Median Student Debt
$54,475 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
42.68% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
469.66% Return on Investment
4.3 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Briar Cliff University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 33 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 41 completions
2. Physical Therapy/Therapist: 27 completions
3. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 25 completions
4. Family Practice Nurse/Nursing: 16 completions
5. Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 13 completions
6. Social Work: 13 completions
7. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 11 completions
8. Psychology, General: 10 completions
9. Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology: 9 completions
Most popular programs at Briar Cliff University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Briar Cliff University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Briar Cliff University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 62.6%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $6,888
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,458
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Briar Cliff University is a private non-profit institution located in Sioux City, IA, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Physical Therapy/Therapist, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. Enrollment is approximately 624 students. Student body composition includes White (58.7%), Hispanic or Latino (14.9%), Non-Resident Alien (12.5%). The 150%-time completion rate is 47.51%. Approximately 53.18% of students receive Pell Grants. About 36.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
Location
Sioux City, IA 51104
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Briar Cliff University provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Briar Cliff University located?
Briar Cliff University is located in Sioux City, IA.
How much does Briar Cliff University cost?
Reported tuition is $36,956 and average net price is $23,907 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,518 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Briar Cliff University?
Briar Cliff University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 796 students, White (58.7%), Hispanic or Latino (14.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Briar Cliff University?
About 36.4% of students at Briar Cliff University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Briar Cliff University earn?
Median earnings are $48,338 six years after entry and $54,475 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Briar Cliff University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 47.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Briar Cliff University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $23,250.
Is Briar Cliff University public or private?
Briar Cliff University is a private nonprofit institution located in Sioux City, IA.
Is Briar Cliff University an HBCU?
No. Briar Cliff University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Briar Cliff University a tribal college?
No. Briar Cliff University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Briar Cliff University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Briar Cliff University does not meet that proxy (reported share 14.9%).
Is Briar Cliff University religiously affiliated?
Yes. IPEDS reports a religious affiliation for Briar Cliff University: Roman Catholic.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Iowa college costs
- Iowa colleges by ROI
- Sioux City, Iowa city profile
- Plains regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Iowa
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.