Admit rate has ranged 56%–77% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Buena Vista University is a small, residential liberal arts college in Storm Lake, Iowa, that defines itself by intimate scale and a fiercely supportive community. With a 60-acre campus where nearly 90% of students live on-site, BVU offers a classic, hands-on undergraduate experience anchored by a 9:1 student-faculty ratio and a curriculum of nearly 70 majors. It's a place where accessibility—a 78% acceptance rate—meets a focused, practical education designed to deliver solid mid-career outcomes in the Midwest.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
Grade point average
Considered (not required)
High school transcript
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,366
In-state tuition
$41,798
Out-of-state tuition
$41,798
Application Fee
None
Graduation Rate
62%
Student-Faculty Ratio
9:1
Median Earnings (10yr)
$49,156
Percent Living On Campus
89%
First-Year Retention Rate
76%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$49,156
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.6×
Median debt at graduation
$25,000
Graduation rate
62%
First-year retention
76%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
58%
Pell (lower-income) share
44%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
35%
Financial health
2.4 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Accounting and Related Services$47,494
Finance and Financial Management Services$47,260
Human Resources Management and Services$43,426
Business Administration, Management and Operations$40,089
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other$39,369
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
3
Per 1,000 students
1.65
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
89
Summer high
82°F
Winter low
15°F
Annual rain
29.2"
Annual snow
25.5"
Natural-hazard risk
Very Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
68
Scholarly works
461
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.6%
Bottom → top quintile
28%
From bottom quintile
6%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Buena Vista University?
Buena Vista University's acceptance rate is approximately 78% (Storm Lake, IA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Buena Vista University cost?
At Buena Vista University, the average net price (after aid) is about $18,846 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Buena Vista University?
Buena Vista University enrolls approximately 1,366 undergraduate students.
Where is Buena Vista University located?
Buena Vista University is located in Storm Lake, IA.
Admissions
Buena Vista University operates with an accessible, moderately selective admissions process. The university accepts the Common Application and maintains a policy, meaning SAT or ACT scores are not required for all applicants. For those who do submit, the middle 50% of admitted students score between 930 and 1130 on the SAT or between 19 and 25 on the ACT. The admissions office does not charge an application fee. While the university offers an early decision plan, specific and enrollment shares for early decision versus regular decision are not detailed in the provided sources. The role of demonstrated interest in the admissions process is also not explicitly defined in the available materials. The process is designed to be straightforward, reflecting the institution's commitment to providing broad access to its residential liberal arts experience.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$39,369
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$39,009
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$37,819
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Academic life at BVU is defined by its small scale and breadth of choice. The university offers nearly 70 academic programs, majors, and areas of study across its undergraduate and select graduate offerings. This creates a curriculum where students can pursue paths ranging from Accounting and Art to Athletic Training and Arts Management. The intimate learning environment is the program's cornerstone: the student-faculty ratio is 9:1, and the average class size falls between 10 and 19 students, with 79% of classes having fewer than 20 students. This structure facilitates close mentorship and hands-on learning. The most popular majors, by percentage of degrees conferred, include Biological and Biomedical Sciences (6%) and Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (5%). The graduation timeline reflects a more traditional pace; about 35% of students graduate in four years, 45% in five years, and 47% in six years.
BVU is overwhelmingly a residential campus community, a fact that fundamentally shapes the student experience. Approximately 89% of undergraduates live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing, with most choosing to live on the 60-acre Storm Lake campus for all four years. This creates a close-knit, "family-like" environment where students and staff form strong supportive bonds. The campus itself is described as picturesque, containing academic buildings, residence halls, and athletic facilities. Student life is animated by a range of organizations, sports teams, and campus events, including innovation showcases like the Degen Pitch Competition. The university is committed to campus safety and health, providing dedicated resources to support student well-being. Off campus, the setting of Storm Lake offers additional options for exploration and recreation.
Buena Vista University prepares its graduates for stable, middle-class career trajectories, particularly in the regional economy. The university's six-year graduation rate is 62%. For those who graduate, the median earnings ten years after starting at BVU are $49,156. This earnings figure places graduates solidly above the national median for workers with a bachelor's degree. Available data suggests that among specific programs, degrees in Accounting are associated with some of the highest reported earnings for alumni, with graduates in that field earning approximately $44,901. The first-year retention rate—a key indicator of student satisfaction and academic fit—is 76%.
Affordability is a central tenet of BVU's value proposition. The university states that over 99% of its students receive financial assistance through grants and/or scholarships. This aid significantly reduces the sticker price. The average —the actual cost after grants and scholarships are applied—is $18,846 per year. The university provides net price calculators to help families estimate their individual costs and potential aid eligibility. Financial aid packages include federal grants, such as the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) for students with exceptional financial need. The university's financial aid office clarifies that it does not determine financial need or dependency status; those assessments are made by the U.S. Department of Education through the FAFSA. The provided sources do not indicate the existence of a no-loan policy or a commitment to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need without loans.
Buena Vista University stands out for delivering a hyper-personalized, all-in undergraduate experience on a scale that has largely vanished from American higher education. This isn't a commuter school or a massive university; it's a true residential college where almost nine out of ten students live on a self-contained 60-acre campus, creating an immersive community. The academic model is its engine: a 9:1 student-faculty ratio and classes that typically have 10-19 students ensure that education is a conversation, not a lecture. With nearly 70 majors, it offers surprising breadth for its size, allowing for both exploration and focus. The value proposition is clear and pragmatic: high accessibility meets intense support to produce solid graduation rates and mid-career earnings that reliably outperform national averages. For students seeking a classic, hands-on college experience defined by close relationships with professors and peers, BVU is a compelling and unpretentious Midwestern option.
Buena Vista University seal · sourceContact Us - Buena Vista University · sourceApply to Buena Vista University · sourceBuena Vista University, Siebens Forum Student Center and Library Renovations - BWBR · source
