Briar Cliff University
#5 Best Psychology Colleges in Iowa- Graduation Rate
- 48% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $54,475 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $23,907 D
- 40% more than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 624
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.1 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Psychology Colleges in Iowa.
Every $1 spent returns $13.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,155,569.
What The Data Says
-
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Earnings 34% above the national college median.
-
Every $1 invested returns $13.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Briar Cliff University Matters
Briar Cliff University is a private doctoral / professional university in Sioux City, IA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 624
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Briar Cliff University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $23,907 a year after grants and scholarships — 40% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $54,475 ten years after enrolling — 34% above the typical college, against $23,250 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 77% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.66 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Briar Cliff University graduates earn an average of $54,475 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure highlights the potential financial return for students investing in their education here. With an enrollment of 624, the university maintains a close-knit environment that fosters connections among students and faculty.
The data on economic mobility is less clear, but the high percentage of Pell Grant recipients (53%) suggests that many students here come from low-income backgrounds. While the graduation rate is 48%, this indicates that nearly half of the students complete their degrees, which is a critical factor for long-term earning potential.
Students at Briar Cliff can expect a net price of about $23,907 after financial aid, with a median debt of $23,250 upon graduation. Those who thrive here often pursue programs in Health Professions, Business, Education, Biology, and Criminal Justice. This focus on practical fields aligns with job market demands, enhancing the prospects for graduates as they enter the workforce.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Briar Cliff University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Briar Cliff University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Briar Cliff University, located in Sioux City, Iowa, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
- Retention Rate
- 64%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 63%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,888
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.61
- First-Gen Students
- 36%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Briar Cliff University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Briar Cliff University is $36,956, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,907. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,764 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,250 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $36,956
- Out-of-State
- $36,956
- Avg Net Price
- $23,907
- Median Debt
- $23,250
- Pell Grant Rate
- 53%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 48%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $17,764
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,604
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $25,516
- Family Income $110K+
- $27,328
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Briar Cliff University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Briar Cliff University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Briar Cliff University earn a median of $54,475, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $48,338
- 8 Years
- $51,373
- 10 Years
- $54,475
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.43x
- Earning > $25K
- 72%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (90)
- 44%
- 100% (90)
- 44%
- 100% (90)
- 44%
- 100% (90)
- 44%
How Briar Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Briar Cliff University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Briar Cliff University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $23,907/year ($95,628 total). Graduates earn $54,475 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,251,197 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,155,569 (13.1× your investment). The median debt is $23,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 48% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $95,628
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,251,197
- Net Return
- $1,155,569
- ROI Multiple
- 13.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $23,907
- Median Debt
- $23,250
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 48%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Briar Cliff University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Briar Cliff University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.99%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 9.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $74,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.99%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 10.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 9.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $101,084
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,022,222
- Investment Income
- $-1,249,302
Top Programs
The fields Briar Cliff University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 23% $56,617 early-career
- Health Professions 13% $68,508 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 11%
- Criminal Justice 6%
- Psychology 6%
- Education 4% $42,081 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 2%
- Visual & Performing Arts 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Briar Cliff University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Briar Cliff University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Briar Cliff University, located in Sioux City, Iowa, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Briar Cliff University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Briar Cliff University is $36,956, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,907. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,764 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,250 in federal student loans.
Is Briar Cliff University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Briar Cliff University earn a median of $54,475, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Briar Cliff University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Briar Cliff University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.99%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 9.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $74,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Briar Cliff University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Briar Cliff University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.66, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Briar Cliff University.
- Union Adventist UniversityLincoln, NE · Close peer49% grad $55,045 earn 100% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Dakota Wesleyan UniversityMitchell, SD · Close peer47% grad $53,728 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Holy Cross CollegeNotre Dame, IN · Close peer50% grad $50,416 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cleary UniversityHowell, MI · Close peer41% grad $54,186 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Randolph CollegeLynchburg, VA · Close peer49% grad $53,409 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Eastern Mennonite UniversityHarrisonburg, VA · Close peer57% grad $54,869 earn 100% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Briar Cliff University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Briar Cliff University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.66, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note