Buena Vista University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Storm Lake, Iowa. It enrolls 1,366 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
66/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes54
Value47
Affordability66
Selectivity41
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 77.6%, Buena Vista University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
77.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 26
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Buena Vista University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
14.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Buena Vista University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $18,846 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$18,846
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
44%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
67%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$41,798
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,330
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,133
Books & Supplies
$2,089
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,504
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,615
Total Cost of Attendance
$54,222
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,901
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,838
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,094
$75,001 – $110,000
$19,571
Over $110,000
$24,967
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,75010%percentile
$7,60725%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$26,52275%percentile
$32,72590%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $17,999
↓ $7,001
No Pell $15,688
↓ $9,312
Dependent students $15,439
↓ $9,561
Independent students $18,728
↓ $6,272
Female students $17,783
↓ $7,217
Male students $16,000
↓ $9,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,517, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
50% of full-time students who enrolled at Buena Vista University graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
50%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Buena Vista University earn a median of $49,156 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,156
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$37,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,100, about 27% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
22.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Buena Vista University is home to 1,366 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,366
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 78.1%1,067
Hispanic 12.6%172
Black 3.2%43
Other 2.1%28
Asian 1.3%18
International 0.8%11
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Buena Vista University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteStorm Lake, Iowa
Housing
Mostly residential770 beds on campus
Adult Learners
30%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Buena Vista University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
46 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Buena Vista University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$193M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$61,173
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
64 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
13
20%
$68,719
Associate Professors
15
23%
$61,760
Assistant Professors
26
41%
$60,006
Instructors
10
16%
$53,517
Pros & Cons of Buena Vista University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Buena Vista University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Buena Vista University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Buena Vista University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Buena Vista University.
Is Buena Vista University hard to get into?
Buena Vista University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Buena Vista University?
Buena Vista University has an acceptance rate of 77.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for Buena Vista University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Buena Vista University scored between 19 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Buena Vista University cost?
The average net price after aid at Buena Vista University is $18,846 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Buena Vista University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,156 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,846 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Buena Vista University known for?
Buena Vista University is best known for its programs in Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration, Human. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Buena Vista University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Buena Vista University are $49,156, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Buena Vista University accredited?
Yes. Buena Vista University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Buena Vista University?
Buena Vista University enrolls 1,366 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Buena Vista University?
Buena Vista University graduates 50% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Buena Vista University a public or private college?
Buena Vista University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Buena Vista University located?
Buena Vista University is located in Storm Lake, Iowa.
What programs does Buena Vista University offer?
Buena Vista University offers 46 distinct programs. The most popular include Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration, Human.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Buena Vista University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Buena Vista University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Iowa
Other colleges in Iowa share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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