Briar Cliff University vs Central College
Briar Cliff University and Central College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Briar Cliff, a private Catholic university in Sioux City, Iowa, boasts a 90% acceptance rate and a diverse student body representing 28 states and 17 countries. Central College, a private liberal arts college in Pella, Iowa, has a slightly lower acceptance rate of 86% and a student body primarily from Iowa and surrounding states. While Briar Cliff excels in nursing, business, and education programs, Central College shines in the fields of business, education, and natural sciences. Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with Briar Cliff at 65% and Central College at 68%. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these two exceptional institutions and make an informed decision about your academic journey.
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![]() Briar Cliff University |
![]() Central College |
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Overview |
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Location | Sioux City, Iowa | Pella, Iowa |
Campus setting | City: Small | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 63.0% | 79.0% |
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No | No |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | Protestant |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | Open Admission | 74.5% |
Application fees | $25 | |
SAT range | N/A | 1000 - 1260 |
ACT range | N/A | 19 - 25 |
Students submitting SAT score | 10.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 67.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 2,202 | |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,641 | |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 340 | |
Yield rate | 20.7% | |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | Not required | N/A |
High school GPA | N/A | Required |
Recommendation letters | N/A | Not required |
High school transcript | N/A | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | N/A | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $48,190 | $34,302 |
Average net price | $21,734 | $22,966 |
Tuition | $32,526 | $19,250 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,713
Meal plan:
$5,440
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Room/dormitory:
$4,892
Meal plan:
$5,660
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Available payment plans |
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|
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $25,701 |
100.0%
Average amount $10,353 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
70.0%
Average amount $5,210 |
73.0%
Average amount $5,605 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $12,375 |
13.0%
Average amount $12,712 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
766
Men 47.4% Women 52.6% |
1,139
Men 51.3% Women 48.7% |
Graduate students |
234
Men 31.6% Women 68.4% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 62.6% | N/A |
International students | 4.8% | 0.1% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 571 | 1,405 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Iowa Nebraska Texas Virgin Islands Illinois | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
|
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 12:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 55.7% | 66.1% |
Dropout rate | 44.3% | 2.5% |
Transferred out | N/A | 31.0% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Social Work (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
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Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
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