Briar Cliff University vs Carleton College
Briar Cliff University and Carleton College, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Briar Cliff, a private Catholic university in Sioux City, Iowa, boasts a 90% acceptance rate and a diverse student body, with 40% of its undergraduates identifying as minorities. Carleton, a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, has a highly selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of only 22%. Its student body is predominantly White, with international students comprising 12% of the undergraduate population. While Briar Cliff offers popular majors in nursing, business, and education, Carleton is known for its strengths in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with Briar Cliff's four-year graduation rate at 58% and Carleton's six-year graduation rate at 91%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two institutions and determine which one aligns best with your
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![]() Briar Cliff University |
![]() Carleton College |
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Overview |
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Location | Sioux City, Iowa | Northfield, Minnesota |
Campus setting | City: Small | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Trimester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 63.0% | 95.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | Open Admission | 17.5% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | N/A | 1408 - 1550 |
ACT range | N/A | 31 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 35.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 34.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 7,915 | |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,389 | |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 555 | |
Yield rate | 40.0% | |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | Not required | N/A |
High school GPA | N/A | Not required |
Recommendation letters | N/A | 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 | $78,315 |
Average net price | $21,734 | $31,718 |
Tuition | $32,526 | $59,850 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,713
Meal plan:
$5,440
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Room/dormitory:
$8,115
Meal plan:
$7,260
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $25,701 |
65.0%
Average amount $45,715 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
70.0%
Average amount $5,210 |
45.0%
Average amount $3,914 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $12,375 |
2.0%
Average amount $14,334 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
766
Men 47.4% Women 52.6% |
2,044
Men 48.7% Women 51.3% |
Graduate students |
234
Men 31.6% Women 68.4% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 62.6% | 81.5% |
International students | 4.8% | 10.2% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 571 | 1,854 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Iowa Nebraska Texas Virgin Islands Illinois | Minnesota California Illinois New York Texas |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 55.7% | 91.4% |
Dropout rate | 44.3% | 8.3% |
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 Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Physics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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