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Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, Iowa · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Town

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At a glance

Average net price
$18,846What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
78%
Graduation rate
54%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
1,366
In-state tuition
$41,798Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$41,798
SAT midpoint
1,052
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$49,156Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$18,846

Better than 72% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

54%

Better than 42% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$49,156

Better than 34% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$25,000

Better than 40% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$54,222

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$18,846

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Buena Vista University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time54%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return76%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$25,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$49,156

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Buena Vista University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Accounting and Related Services$53,28021
Finance and Financial Management Services$52,22616
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations$49,099Not reported
Business/Commerce, General$48,81013
Business Administration, Management and Operations$47,38554
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$44,55125
Marketing$42,97214
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$42,83483
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$38,35619
Criminal Justice and Corrections$37,64119
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$37,1383
Psychology, General$35,55934
Biology, General$30,68212
Human Services, GeneralNot reported51
Health/Medical Preparatory ProgramsNot reported11
Agricultural Business and ManagementNot reported11
Education, GeneralNot reported10
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralNot reported7
Special Education and TeachingNot reported6
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationNot reported5
Social WorkNot reported5
Animal SciencesNot reported5
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationNot reported5
Communication and Media StudiesNot reported4
CriminologyNot reported4
Computer Systems AnalysisNot reported4
Non-Professional Legal StudiesNot reported4
Graphic CommunicationsNot reported4
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported3
MathematicsNot reported3
Design and Applied ArtsNot reported2
ChemistryNot reported2
Medical Illustration and InformaticsNot reported1
MusicNot reported1
HistoryNot reported1
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported1
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reported1
Agriculture, GeneralNot reported1
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNot reportedNot reported
Education, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsNot reportedNot reported
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsNot reportedNot reported
Soil SciencesNot reportedNot reported
Philosophy and Religious Studies, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Public AdministrationNot reportedNot reported
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reportedNot reported
Human Resources Management and ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Arts, Entertainment, and Media ManagementNot reportedNot reported
PhysicsNot reportedNot reported
Business/Managerial EconomicsNot reportedNot reported
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reportedNot reported
Political Science and GovernmentNot reportedNot reported
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reportedNot reported

All 54 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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