Head-to-head comparison
Central College vs Briar Cliff University: which has better ROI?
Option A Pella, IA
Central College
- Net price / year
- $23,377
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,317
- Payback
- 15.7 yrs
Option B Sioux City, IA
Briar Cliff University
- Net price / year
- $23,907
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,475
- Payback
- 15.6 yrs
Briar Cliff University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $95,628 in 15.6 years versus 15.7 years at Central College, on median earnings of $54,475 vs $54,317 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central College | Briar Cliff University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,377 | $23,907 |
| Total net cost | $93,508 | $95,628 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,317 | $54,475 |
| Median debt | $26,984 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 15.7 yrs | 15.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $25,632 | $26,672 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Central College or Briar Cliff University?
Central College, at $23,377 a year after aid versus $23,907 — a gap of $530 a year, or $2,120 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Central College or Briar Cliff University graduates earn more?
Briar Cliff University graduates report a median $54,475 ten years after entry, $158 more than the $54,317 at Central College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Central College or Briar Cliff University?
Briar Cliff University: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $26,984 at Central College, a difference of $3,734. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
66% of students finish at Central College, against 48% at Briar Cliff University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.