Briar Cliff University vs Central College
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Briar Cliff University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Central College at 100.0%. Average median debt: Briar Cliff University at $25,795 vs Central College at $25,560. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $56,500 vs $58,450.
| Metric | Briar Cliff University | Central College |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Private | Private |
| State | Ia | Ia |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $25,795 | $25,560* |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $56,500 | $58,450* |
| Majors Tracked | 20 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Mathematics (95/100) | Computer Science (95/100) |
| Best Major Debt | $22,260 | $22,001* |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $78,000 | $95,000* |
Briar Cliff University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Central College at 100.0%. Average median debt: Briar Cliff University at $25,795 vs Central College at $25,560. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $56,500 vs $58,450.
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Completion rates run close at the two schools: 100.0% versus 100.0%. When graduation probability is comparable across both options, the decision comes down to cost and post-graduation earnings rather than degree-completion risk.
Average median debt is roughly even across Briar Cliff University and Central College. The cost side of the comparison effectively cancels out; the meaningful question becomes whether the program mix and the earnings outcomes differ enough to break the tie.
Median first-year earnings are roughly comparable between the schools — $56,500 and $58,450. With earnings close, the financial comparison turns mostly on the cost side: total debt at graduation is the lever, since the earnings denominator essentially nets out.
Both schools sit in Ia, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.