Briar Cliff University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Deciding between Briar Cliff University and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN
  • Setting
  • Briar Cliff University Small City
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Briar Cliff University 947
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 4,505
  • Type
  • Briar Cliff University Private 4 Year
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Briar Cliff University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Briar Cliff University Roman Catholic
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Briar Cliff University Non-profit
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Briar Cliff University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Briar Cliff University $36,956
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Briar Cliff University $36,956
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Room & Board
  • Briar Cliff University $11,518
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $11,200
  • Average Net Price
  • Briar Cliff University $23,263
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $22,032
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Briar Cliff University $28,425
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $35,348
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Briar Cliff University 100%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 100%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Briar Cliff University Calculate
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Calculate
  • Applied
  • Briar Cliff University -
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,441
  • Admitted
  • Briar Cliff University -
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,337
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Briar Cliff University Open
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 92.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Briar Cliff University Open
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Briar Cliff University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Typical ACT score
  • Briar Cliff University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Average High School GPA
  • Briar Cliff University 3.21
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3.49
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Briar Cliff University B+
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Briar Cliff University Unavailable
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Briar Cliff University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • ACT Range
  • Briar Cliff University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • SAT Range
  • Briar Cliff University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Briar Cliff University Open admission
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Briar Cliff University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Briar Cliff University 10:1
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Briar Cliff University
    • Business (35%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
    • Business (48%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Briar Cliff University 45%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 62%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Briar Cliff University $42,500
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $48,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Briar Cliff University 66%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Briar Cliff University $24,500
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Briar Cliff University $253
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Briar Cliff University 48%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 37%
  • % Women
  • Briar Cliff University 52%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Briar Cliff University Medium
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Low
  • HBCU
  • Briar Cliff University No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • % White
  • Briar Cliff University 73%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 59%
  • % Asian
  • Briar Cliff University 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 2%
  • % Black
  • Briar Cliff University 7%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Briar Cliff University 11%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 5%
  • % Native American
  • Briar Cliff University 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Briar Cliff University 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Briar Cliff University 2%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1%
  • % International
  • Briar Cliff University 4%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Briar Cliff University 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 23%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Briar Cliff University 32%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Briar Cliff University 53%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 33%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Briar Cliff University Yes
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Briar Cliff University No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Meal Plan
  • Briar Cliff University Yes
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Briar Cliff University Yes
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Briar Cliff University No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Learn More
  • Briar Cliff University Details
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, IA with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is larger than Briar Cliff University based on total student enrollment (4,505 students vs. 947 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Briar Cliff University is located in Sioux City, IA (Small City setting); Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is in Winona, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • Briar Cliff University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Briar Cliff University 10:1; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1.

Briar Cliff University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Briar Cliff University or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than Briar Cliff University ($22,032 vs. $23,263).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota are 2.8% lower than at Briar Cliff University ($11,200 vs. $11,518).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is 22% more expensive for in-state tuition than Briar Cliff University (about $8,124 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $36,956.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22% higher at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Briar Cliff University (about $8,124 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $36,956.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Briar Cliff University as at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students is 24.4% larger than aid received by Briar Cliff University students ($35,348 vs. $28,425).

Briar Cliff University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Briar Cliff University or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and Briar Cliff University.

  • Briar Cliff University reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Briar Cliff University - Open admission; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Briar Cliff University (3.21).

Briar Cliff University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Briar Cliff University and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than Briar Cliff University's (45%).
  • Graduates from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than Briar Cliff University graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $42,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than Briar Cliff University graduates ($23,250 vs. $24,500).
  • Among borrowers, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Briar Cliff University graduates ($240 vs. $253).
  • More Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Briar Cliff University students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.