Briar Cliff University

Briar Cliff University has maintained relatively accessible admissions and experienced downward movement in national rankings in recent years. In the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, the university stood at 331 in 2023 before slipping to 394 in 2024 and ending at 384 in 2026. Admissions selectivity has historically been moderate. Looking at admission records from 2015, the acceptance rate for women was 68.1%, while the acceptance rate for men was 58.4%. During that admissions cycle, 206 applicants ultimately enrolled, while 680 applicants were denied. For applicants evaluating admission likelihood, the historical acceptance figures and current ranking profile indicate an institution with relatively moderate selectivity, meaning academic credentials within the typical profile generally provide a viable pathway to admission.

Undergraduate degrees at Briar Cliff University are heavily concentrated in a small selection of professional fields. In 2025, the university conferred 142 bachelor degrees, with the top three majors accounting for 43% of all undergraduate completions. The largest undergraduate major was Business Administration and Management, General, with 24 graduates, followed by Social Work and Exercise Science and Kinesiology. None of the university's largest undergraduate programs carry national rankings. At the graduate level, the university awards degrees primarily in physical therapy and nursing; however, in the 2026 US News rankings, graduate physical therapy ranked 252 and occupational therapy ranked 280, meaning the university does not possess nationally prominent academic programs. In terms of early-career compensation, 2023 earnings data indicate that bachelor graduates in Social Work achieved median first-year earnings of $47,946. For prospective students, these outcomes illustrate a focused academic catalog oriented toward direct community careers rather than nationally recognized research programs.

The student body at Briar Cliff University totaled 947 students in 2025, comprising traditional undergraduates, transfer students, graduate cohorts, and non-degree learners. White students form the majority across degree levels, while international and Asian students make up relatively small segments of the campus community. Among the entering class of first-year undergraduates, international students numbered 22, representing 15.5% of the group. Asian representation remains minimal throughout the institution, accounting for 1 student in the first-year cohort. Continuing undergraduates, transfer cohorts, and graduate programs reflect similarly low counts of Asian students, alongside modest enrollments of international learners. For prospective applicants, the demographic composition indicates a predominantly domestic student environment where international and Asian peers constitute small, close-knit groups within the broader university setting.

Undergraduate enrollment at Briar Cliff University consists primarily of traditional college-age students. Among 765 undergraduates in 2025, the largest cohort was aged 20 to 21, totaling 240 students, followed closely by students aged 18 to 19. A notable group of students was under 18 years old, reflecting dual-enrollment participation. By contrast, the graduate division of 181 students serves an older population, with 47% of graduate students concentrated between ages 22 and 24, alongside working adults in their late twenties and forties. This distribution creates a traditional residential environment for undergraduates, while graduate programs operate with a post-baccalaureate focus.

International student presence at Briar Cliff University is concentrated at the undergraduate level, where representation has expanded over time. Undergraduate international enrollment rose to 78 students in 2025, accounting for 10.2% of the undergraduate body. This 10.2% share is higher than 81% of peer schools among all private comprehensive universities. At the graduate level, international enrollment remains negligible, accounting for a very small fraction of advanced degree seekers. Among degree completers in 2025, international students comprised 4.9% of bachelor graduates, while no master or doctoral degrees were conferred on international scholars. At the bachelor level, international graduates were found in Business Administration and Management as well as Exercise Science and Kinesiology, with no representation in nursing, social work, or criminal justice. For international applicants, the university offers an established undergraduate cohort alongside domestic peers, though graduate programs enroll virtually no foreign students.

Applicants exploring regional alternatives to Briar Cliff University will find several distinct public and private institutions within easy reach. Just 31 kilometers away across the state line, University of South Dakota is a public institution ranked 262 among National Universities in 2027. Traveling south into the Omaha metropolitan area, University of Nebraska at Omaha sits 90.2 kilometers from campus and holds rank 299 among National Universities, offering an urban public university setting. In the same city, Creighton University is located 90.6 kilometers away, ranking at 100 among National Universities as a prominent private Catholic peer. Further southwest, University of Nebraska-Lincoln is 118.9 kilometers away and ranked 169 among National Universities, providing a comprehensive state flagship option for students comparing regional universities.

Campus safety records at Briar Cliff University indicate a declining rate of security incidents over time. The crime rate per 1,000 students dropped from 13.4 in 2016 to 5.7 in 2025. Across the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, the vast majority of reported occurrences involved campus disciplinary actions rather than severe criminal behavior. Disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations constituted the largest category, totaling 21 incidents over those years, alongside 3 disciplinary referrals for drug law violations. Property offenses and violent crimes were rare during the same three-year span, with few reported vehicle thefts, thefts, and isolated personal offenses. Overall, the statistical record shows a campus safety environment characterized by low rates of serious violence, with administrative policy enforcement accounting for most recorded student conduct matters.