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Is Briar Cliff University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Briar Cliff, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Heavy lift
Briar Cliff lands in the heavy lift band for a typical family. The combination of $23,907 in yearly net price and $23,250 in median debt asks a lot relative to median earnings of $54,475. For context, Briar Cliff's net price is about 2% above the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. This does not make the school wrong for every student, but it does mean the price deserves a closer test.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$23,292
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrNet price is slightly above average
You'd pay about $455 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $2,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price is manageable, but it makes the aid offer matter a lot.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$23,907
Median earnings 10 years out
$54,475
Median debt at graduation
$23,250
Graduation rate
48%
At Briar Cliff, a typical graduate carries about $23,250 in student debt and earns roughly $54,475 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $264 per month, or 6% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Briar Cliff is a private nonprofit four year school in Sioux City, IA. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
Cornell
Mount Vernon, IA
Worth-It Score: 57/100
Median net price: $23,634
Private nonprofit 4-year
University of Dubuque
Dubuque, IA
Worth-It Score: 44/100
Median net price: $23,386
Private nonprofit 4-year
Central
Pella, IA
Worth-It Score: 59/100
Median net price: $23,377
Private nonprofit 4-year
Clarke
Dubuque, IA
Worth-It Score: 53/100
Median net price: $24,479
Private nonprofit 4-year
Saint Ambrose
Davenport, IA
Worth-It Score: 59/100
Median net price: $24,691
Common questions about Briar Cliff
The median net price at Briar Cliff is $23,907 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in Iowa? See the most affordable private colleges in Iowa →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →