Briar Cliff University vs Union College
Briar Cliff University and Union College, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to prospective students. Briar Cliff, a private Catholic university in Sioux City, Iowa, boasts a 90% acceptance rate and a student body of over 1,500 undergraduates. Union College, a private liberal arts college in Schenectady, New York, has a more selective admissions process with a 35% acceptance rate and a smaller undergraduate population of around 2,200 students. While both institutions offer a diverse range of academic programs, Briar Cliff is known for its strong nursing and education programs, while Union College excels in engineering and business. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about the differences in tuition, graduation rates, student demographics, and popular majors between these two esteemed institutions.
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![]() Briar Cliff University |
![]() Union College |
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Overview |
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Location | Sioux City, Iowa | Lincoln, Nebraska |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Large |
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 and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 63.0% | 73.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | Protestant |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | Open Admission | 98.5% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | N/A | 980 - 1130 |
ACT range | N/A | 18 - 24 |
Students submitting SAT score | 8.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 70.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 722 | |
Total number of admissions given out | 711 | |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 116 | |
Yield rate | 16.3% | |
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 | $42,460 |
Average net price | $21,734 | $24,725 |
Tuition | $32,526 | $24,960 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,713
Meal plan:
$5,440
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Room/dormitory:
$4,160
Meal plan:
$3,050
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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 |
100.0%
Average amount $13,368 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
70.0%
Average amount $5,210 |
88.0%
Average amount $4,457 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $12,375 |
10.0%
Average amount $4,255 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
766
Men 47.4% Women 52.6% |
685
Men 42.9% Women 57.1% |
Graduate students |
234
Men 31.6% Women 68.4% |
89
Men 16.9% Women 83.1% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 62.6% | N/A |
International students | 4.8% | 3.9% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 571 | 896 |
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 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 55.7% | 59.9% |
Dropout rate | 44.3% | 39.0% |
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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Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
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