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Briar Cliff University

#1520 in US ranking Sioux City, IA
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$58,112
Tuition & fees
$39,064
Avg. aid
$25,214
Receiving aid
100%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
48%
Median salary
$46,966
1 yr after graduation

What does Briar Cliff University offer in terms of athletics?

Briar Cliff's varsity teams, known as the Chargers, compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Sports reported among its offerings include basketball, football, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, baseball, softball, bowling, golf, tennis, cross-country, and track and field.

Varsity participation involves team eligibility and selection, unlike casual recreation. A student interested in a sport should check the current varsity roster and recruiting process with that team's coaches rather than assume every listed sport has the same participation route. Club, intramural, and fitness activities should likewise be checked separately; an athletics listing does not establish that each sport is offered in all three forms.

What student groups and Associations are available at Briar Cliff University?

Student government and campus groups provide ways to participate outside class. Organizations identified in Briar Cliff student-life information include Briar Cliff Student Government, the Residence Hall Association, Blue Crew, Choices, and Catholic Daughters of America.

The names indicate different kinds of involvement, from student representation and residential programming to school-spirit or interest-based activities. Membership, meeting schedules, and active status can change from year to year, so a prospective student with a particular interest should look at the current student-organization directory rather than assume a historical listing guarantees an active chapter. The university also reports student media and performing-arts opportunities, including a campus newspaper, radio station, theater group, and choral groups.

Who studies at Briar Cliff University?

Briar Cliff is a relatively small university, with 947 students in the reported enrollment snapshot. The entering figures include 142 first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates and 74 transfer-in, degree-seeking undergraduates - an indication that both new high school graduates and transfers form part of the student population.

In reported geographic figures for incoming students, 32% were Iowa residents, 53% came from other U.S. states, and 15% came from other countries. Those percentages describe the measured entering group, not necessarily the residence mix of every student on campus. Age figures show substantial enrollment among students ages 18-24 alongside older students; neither the age distribution nor the overall total describes a single uniform student experience.

How does student life look like at Briar Cliff University?

Life at Briar Cliff combines a small-campus setting with activities in Sioux City. Students may encounter peers through classes, residential programming, campus events, arts, student media, athletics, and community service. How much of that is part of a student's routine will depend partly on whether they live on campus, commute, or spend time in off-campus placements.

The institution reports on-campus health and personal counseling services. Students should check appointment procedures, hours, and any referral arrangements when assessing whether those services fit their needs. A student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 suggests a relatively small institution, but it does not describe the availability of a particular course or guarantee individual access to an instructor.

What libraries are available to students at Briar Cliff University?

Bishop Mueller Library is Briar Cliff's main campus library. It provides a place to study and a starting point for finding academic materials, whether a student needs sources for a first-year paper or specialized research for an upper-level course.

Students should check the library's current catalog and research guides for access to databases, journals, borrowing, and assistance from library staff. Its reported study areas are not open around the clock, so students who rely on late-night study space should verify current hours and alternative campus spaces rather than assume 24-hour library access.

Briar Cliff University Student Life for 2027

Total enrollment

947

Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen

142

Member of Athletic Associations

NAIA

Total staff

62 full time, 37 part time

Veterans affair office

No

Briar Cliff University Student Body

Undergraduate vs. graduate students

Undergraduate: 766
Graduate: 181

Full-time vs. part-time students

Full-time: 681
Part-time: 266

Full-time degree-seeking students by gender

Women: 47
Men: 95

Students by race/ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino: 93
Black or African American: 46
White: 366
American Indian or Alaska Native: 9
Asian: 5
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 1
Two or more races: 25
Unknown: 1

Freshly enrolled students' age

Under 25 years
Over 25 years

Briar Cliff University Sports & Athletics

  • Member of NAIA

Varsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).

Sport

Varsity Intramural Aid

Baseball

Men–Men

Basketball

BothBothBoth

Bowling

–Both–

Cross-country running

Both–Both

Football

Men–Men

Golf

BothBothBoth

Soccer

Both–Both

Softball

WomenBothWomen

Table tennis

–Both–

Tennis

–Both–

Track and field

Both–Both

Volleyball

WomenBothWomen

Wrestling

Men–Men

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.