Briar Cliff University vs. Gustavus Adolphus College

Should I go to Briar Cliff University or Gustavus Adolphus College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Briar Cliff University or Gustavus Adolphus College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Briar Cliff University vs. Gustavus Adolphus College comparison
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Gustavus Adolphus College
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Overview

Briar Cliff University Gustavus Adolphus College
Location Sioux City, IA Saint Peter, MN
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 927 2,072
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website briarcliff.edu gustavus.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Briar Cliff University Gustavus Adolphus College
Tuition (In State) $33,180 $52,490
Tuition (Out of State) $33,180 $52,490
Room & Board $9,910 $11,010
Avg Net Price $21,620 $30,297
Avg Grant Aid $26,614 $32,808
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 94%

Admission

Briar Cliff University Gustavus Adolphus College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 3,781
Admitted - 2,794
Acceptance Rate Open 73.9%
Enrolled % Open 16.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.21 3.69
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025

Academics

Briar Cliff University Gustavus Adolphus College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (35%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

Briar Cliff University Gustavus Adolphus College
Graduation Rate 45% 82%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $56,300
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $253 $279

Diversity

Briar Cliff University Gustavus Adolphus College
% Men 44% 45%
% Women 56% 55%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 83%
% Black 7% 2%
% Hispanic 11% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 4% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Briar Cliff University Gustavus Adolphus College
% In-State 30% 79%
% Out-of-State 58% 15%

Campus

Briar Cliff University Gustavus Adolphus College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Gustavus Adolphus College is larger than than Briar Cliff University based on total student enrollment (2,072 students vs. 927 students)

Briar Cliff University vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Briar Cliff University or Gustavus Adolphus College?

  • Gustavus Adolphus College is 58.2% more expensive to attend than Briar Cliff University for in-state tuition ($52,490.00 vs. $33,180.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 58.2% higher at Gustavus Adolphus College than Briar Cliff University ($52,490.00 vs. $33,180.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Briar Cliff University than Gustavus Adolphus College ($21,620 vs. $30,297)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Briar Cliff University are 11.1% lower than costs at Gustavus Adolphus College ($9,910 vs. $11,010)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Briar Cliff University than Gustavus Adolphus College (99% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gustavus Adolphus College students is 23.3% larger than aid received Briar Cliff University ($32,808 vs. $26,614)

Which college is harder to get into, Briar Cliff University or Gustavus Adolphus College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Gustavus Adolphus College or Briar Cliff University .

  • Accepted freshman Gustavus Adolphus College students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Briar Cliff University (3.21)

Briar Cliff University vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Briar Cliff University or Gustavus Adolphus College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Gustavus Adolphus College and Briar Cliff University.

  • The graduation rate at Gustavus Adolphus College is higher than Briar Cliff University (82% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Gustavus Adolphus College earn on average $13,800 more per year than Briar Cliff University graduates after ten years. ($56,300 vs. $42,500)
  • Briar Cliff University students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Gustavus Adolphus College graduates. ($24,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Briar Cliff University graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Gustavus Adolphus College graduates. ($253 vs. $279)
  • More Gustavus Adolphus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Briar Cliff University students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/