Moderately selective2025-2026 admissions cycle

Briar Cliff University acceptance rate and admissions profile

Briar Cliff University, a private college in Iowa, reports a 65% acceptance rate and sits in the moderately selective band. In practice that means it admits more applicants than it rejects, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

Use this page to see what Briar Cliff University weighs, where it ranks among Iowa schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1120, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
65%
Moderately selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1120
of admitted students
Type
Private
Iowa
Selectivity in state
#5
of 21 in IA
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Will I get into Briar Cliff University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Briar Cliff University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Briar Cliff University?

Your odds at Briar Cliff University are not the same as its 65% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Briar Cliff University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Briar Cliff University hard to get into?

Briar Cliff University is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 65% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Briar Cliff University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Briar Cliff University, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. Briar Cliff University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Briar Cliff University?

Briar Cliff University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1120. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Briar Cliff University.

Calculate your chances at Briar Cliff University

What Briar Cliff University looks for

What Briar Cliff University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

The factors that carry the most weight at Briar Cliff University are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Briar Cliff University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Briar Cliff University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Briar Cliff University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Above the admitted 75th percentile
1100In the competitive admitted range
Colleges for a 1100 SAT →Colleges for a 22 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Briar Cliff University compares in Iowa

Briar Cliff University ranks #5 most selective of 21 schools in Iowa in our database.

Among the 21 Iowa schools we track, Briar Cliff University ranks #5 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Grinnell College (15%) and William Penn University (52%) sit nearby, which makes Iowa a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

Grinnell College
15%acceptance · IA
William Penn University
52%acceptance · IA
Drake University
64%acceptance · IA
Coe College
64%acceptance · IA
Dordt University
68%acceptance · IA
Morningside University
71%acceptance · IA
Luther College
72%acceptance · IA
Clarke University
72%acceptance · IA
See all Iowa schools →

Similar to Briar Cliff University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Applicants targeting Briar Cliff University often weigh Bryant University, Sacred Heart University, and University of Dayton, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Bryant University
65%acceptance · RI
Sacred Heart University
65%acceptance · CT
University of Dayton
65%acceptance · OH
Cedarville University
65%acceptance · OH
Chapman University
65%acceptance · CA
Claflin University
65%acceptance · SC

Frequently asked questions

What does Briar Cliff University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Briar Cliff University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Briar Cliff University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Briar Cliff University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Briar Cliff University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Briar Cliff University specifically.

What are the admission requirements for Briar Cliff University?

Briar Cliff University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.