About Briar Cliff University
Located in a small city, Briar Cliff University is a private nonprofit university in Sioux City, Iowa, with about 624 undergraduate students, most of them full time. The federal student-to-faculty ratio is about 10 to 1.
Nursing programs at Briar Cliff University
Federal completion data shows nursing credentials awarded at these levels: bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), master’s degree in nursing (MSN), and doctoral degree in nursing (DNP). In the most recent reporting year, the school reported about 21 bachelor’s-level nursing graduates, about 22 master’s-level nursing graduates, and fewer than 5 doctoral-level nursing graduates. A bachelor’s program is the traditional four-year route to RN licensure and the usual starting point for later graduate study; see our ADN vs. BSN guide if you are still deciding on a degree level. Graduate options (MSN and DNP) are aimed at licensed nurses moving into advanced practice, leadership, or teaching. That is a relatively small annual graduating class, so ask how many seats open each year.
Cost and student outcomes
Published tuition and fees are about $39,100 a year. The average net price (what students receiving federal aid pay after grants and scholarships) is about $27,500 a year. About 29% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Students who finish the bachelor’s level and borrow leave with median federal loan debt of about $15,700. Schoolwide, about 46% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time and 64% return for a second year.
Applying and licensure
The federal data does not report an overall admission rate for this school, so ask the admissions office how applicants are evaluated. Expect the nursing program to have its own application, prerequisite courses, and limited seats. Our guide to getting into nursing school explains what programs typically look for. To work as a nurse in Iowa, graduates apply for a license with the state board of nursing in Iowa and pass the NCLEX. Before you commit, verify the program’s ACEN or CCNE accreditation and state approval, and compare it with other options on our Iowa nursing schools page.
Figures come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and can change. Confirm current details with the school.