Cornell College vs Briar Cliff University: which has better ROI?
Briar Cliff University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $95,628 in 15.6 years versus 18.5 years at Cornell College, on median earnings of $54,475 vs $53,460 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cornell College | Briar Cliff University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,634 | $23,907 |
| Total net cost | $94,536 | $95,628 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,460 | $54,475 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 18.5 yrs | 15.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $7,464 | $26,672 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cornell College or Briar Cliff University?
Cornell College, at $23,634 a year after aid versus $23,907 — a gap of $273 a year, or $1,092 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cornell College or Briar Cliff University graduates earn more?
Briar Cliff University graduates report a median $54,475 ten years after entry, $1,015 more than the $53,460 at Cornell College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Cornell College or Briar Cliff University?
Briar Cliff University: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Cornell College, a difference of $3,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
62% of students finish at Cornell College, against 48% at Briar Cliff University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.