Fast Facts

Rapid need-to-know highlights to help you feel informed about The Cliff. Be part of a small community built on big outcomes. A place you can belong, create, and unleash.

Student Body Stats

Our welcoming campus culture combines rich academics with a tradition of service.

• Enrollment Breakdown
  • 2024 Enrollment: 947
  • 2023 Enrollment: 941
  • 2022 Enrollment: 927
  • 2021 Enrollment: 999
  • 2020 Enrollment: 1,076

• Male/Female Ratio (percentage): 48% male, 52% female. (Fall 2024)
• Demographics: Students come from 37 states, the American Samoa and 32 foreign countries. (Fall 2024)
• Race/Ethnicity: 41% of the student body is comprised of minority students. (Fall 2024) 

Academic Stats

Briar Cliff is excited to offer several award-winning programs that you can explore. While many of our undergraduates join the working world after their time on The Cliff, some will go on to finish their degrees in the following professions: Chiropractic, Dentistry, Law, Medicine, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, and Veterinary Medicine.

• Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 10 to 1
• Average ACT: 20.6 (2020 freshmen)
• Average GPA: 3.21 (2020 freshmen)
• Number of Programs: 32 undergraduate, five masters, and two doctorate programs
• Types of Programs Available:
  • Undergraduate Programs
  • Masters Programs
  • Doctorate Programs
  • Professional Programs (continuing education, additional training, and professional development)
  • Cliff Academy Programs (high-school dual enrollment courses)

Retention and Completion

Retention Rates

First-Time Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees Fall 2021 to Fall 2022: 68% Fall 2022 to Fall 2023: 61% Fall 2023 to Fall 2024: 64%

Graduation Rates

Graduation Rates for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees: Began in Fall 2015 - 4-year: 44% - 6-year: 56% - 8-year: 56% Began in Fall 2017 - 4-year: 35% - 6-year: 49% Began in Fall 2018 - 4-year: 35.9% - 6-year: 47% Began in Fall 2019 - 4-year: 39.7%

6-Year Graduation Rate by Gender

Percentage of Full-Time, First-Time Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees (Beginning Fall 2017)  Male: 44% Female: 56%

6-Year Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity

Percentage of Full-Time, First-Time Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees (Beginning Fall 2017)  American Indian or Alaska Native: 50% Asian: 83% Black or African American: 13% Hispanic/Latino: 44% Native Hawaiian or Other: 100% White: 53% Two or More Races: 33% US Nonresident: 71%

Cost and Financial Aid Stats

Our Financial Aid department is dedicated to doing everything we can to offer our incoming and current undergraduate students countless scholarship opportunities to ensure your Briar Cliff education investment is affordable.

• Full Time Undergraduate Tuition: $35,544
• Average financial aid award: $31,530 (2023-2024 average; including federal, state, and university grants/scholarships, all federal and private loans)
• First-time, full-time students receiving aid (percentage): 100%
• Students Receiving Aid: 100% percent of first-time, full-time students receive aid to attend BCU.
• All awards require completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Briar Cliff's FAFSA code is 001846.
• GRE Code: 7301
• DPT Program GRE Code: 1700

Student Life Stats

Student clubs and organizations can provide a way to bolster your character, gain leadership experience, and meet new people. The best way to make your Briar Cliff University experience your own is to get involved.

• Student Support Services: More than 30 services.
• Student Activities: More than 25 student clubs, organizations, and activities. 
• Campus Locations: The Briar Cliff University main campus sits on top of a 70- acre hilltop overlooking Sioux City, IA. This location supplies the perfect blend of city life and opportunities while providing our students a safe and secure atmosphere to live and learn.
  
  Briar Cliff University’s Mayfair Campus and Physical Therapy Clinic are an extension of the main Briar Cliff University campus, located on the east side of Sioux City.
• Residence Life: With four residence halls (Alverno, Baxter-DiGiovanni, Noonan, and Toller), there is a capacity of 562 students.
• Living on Campus: 66% of full-time undergraduates students live on campus. (Fall 2021)
• Athletics: The Briar Cliff Chargers includes varsity teams in 18 different athletic programs that compete in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), which is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
• Mascot: Bolt the Charger (Horse) 
• Colors: Blue and gold
• Terms: How to speak Briar Cliff

History Stats

Whether you are on-campus, online, or attending school at another location, Briar Cliff was built on the values of creating a caring community - and we are known for doing just that.

• On Sept. 18, 1930,  Briar Cliff College was established as a private, liberal arts institution by the Catholic Franciscan order known as the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque.
• In 1937, Briar Cliff's two-year education program was expanded to four years.
• In 1965, the first males were admitted to Briar Cliff College.
• In 2001, the college became Briar Cliff University. That summer, graduate programs (master and doctorate) were implemented.

Here, you can expect to form personal connections with all your advisors, professors, faculty, staff, and coaches.