Briar Cliff University

Briar Cliff University is a private Catholic university in Sioux City, Iowa, affiliated with the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque. Founded in 1930, it began as a women’s college and later became coeducational. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in fields such as business, education, nursing, health sciences, and the liberal arts. Briar Cliff University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and maintains a campus overlooking the Missouri River near the borders of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. It attracts students seeking a values-based education rooted in Franciscan traditions, with small class sizes and a focus on professional preparation and community engagement.

Briar Cliff University was founded on September 18, 1930, in Sioux City, Iowa, by the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque. Established as a private, two-year liberal arts college for women, Briar Cliff College opened with 25 students in Heelan Hall. In 1937, the institution expanded its curriculum to a four-year program. During the 1960s, Briar Cliff University transitioned to coeducation, formally admitting male students in 1966. Campus growth continued with the addition of residence halls and athletic facilities in the following decades. Graduate programs were introduced in the late twentieth century, and on June 1, 2001, Briar Cliff College officially became Briar Cliff University to reflect its expanded academic offerings. The university later added online programs and doctoral degrees, including a Doctor of Nursing Practice, further broadening its academic profile while maintaining its Franciscan Catholic mission.