Briar Cliff University vs Simpson College
Briar Cliff University and Simpson 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 student body of over 1,500 undergraduates. Simpson, a private liberal arts college in Indianola, Iowa, has a slightly lower acceptance rate of 85% and a smaller undergraduate population of around 1,300. While both universities offer a wide range of academic programs, Briar Cliff is known for its strong nursing and business programs, while Simpson excels in the liberal arts and sciences. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about the differences in tuition, graduation rates, student demographics, and popular majors, and make an informed decision about which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Briar Cliff University |
![]() Simpson College |
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Overview |
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Location | Sioux City, Iowa | Indianola, Iowa |
Campus setting | City: Small | Town: Fringe |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 63.0% | 70.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | Methodism |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | Open Admission | 90.8% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | N/A | 890 - 1280 |
ACT range | N/A | 20 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 2.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 35.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 1,330 | |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,208 | |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 286 | |
Yield rate | 23.7% | |
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 | $56,520 |
Average net price | $21,734 | $20,986 |
Tuition | $32,526 | $43,124 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,713
Meal plan:
$5,440
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Room/dormitory:
$4,680
Meal plan:
$4,974
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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 $34,582 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
70.0%
Average amount $5,210 |
73.0%
Average amount $5,158 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $12,375 |
16.0%
Average amount $10,172 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
766
Men 47.4% Women 52.6% |
1,172
Men 46.9% Women 53.1% |
Graduate students |
234
Men 31.6% Women 68.4% |
46
Men 39.1% Women 60.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 62.6% | 28.9% |
International students | 4.8% | 1.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Town: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | 571 | 1,264 |
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 | Iowa Arizona Texas Missouri Nebraska |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 55.7% | 68.9% |
Dropout rate | 44.3% | 30.8% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
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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Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
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