Briar Cliff University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Briar Cliff University charges a net price of $23,907/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $95,628. Graduates earn a median $54,475 ten years after entry, $6,115/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 15.6 years — a 20-year net return of $26,672, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Briar Cliff University's 15.6-year payback ranks #977 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 24% of them, and #15 of 47 in Iowa.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $23,907/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $95,628 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $54,475 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $6,115/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,250 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 15.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $26,672 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Briar Cliff University's own numbers. Net price $23,907 × 4 years = $95,628 total. Median earnings $54,475 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $6,115 a year of premium. $95,628 ÷ $6,115 = 15.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $26,672. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Briar Cliff University students graduate with?
A median $23,250 in federal loans among completers, or 43% of the $54,475 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Briar Cliff University students graduate?
48% finish their degree — 52% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $95,628 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $199,225 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Briar Cliff University expensive compared with other Iowa colleges?
Its $23,907 net price runs $5,318 above the $18,589 median across the 47 Iowa colleges we profile, or $21,272 more across the full degree.