Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA · Private nonprofit · offers Graduate degrees
78%Acceptance rate
$18,846Average net price / year
62%Graduation rate
$49,156Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$25,000Median debt at graduation
1,366Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $41,798
- Total cost of attendance
- $54,222
- Room & board
- $11,330
- Books & supplies
- $2,089
- Average net price
- $18,846
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $12,901
- $30–48k
- $14,838
- $48–75k
- $18,094
- $75–110k
- $19,571
- $110k+
- $24,967
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 77.6%
- Average SAT
- 1120
- ACT composite (25–75%)
- 19–26
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 62%
- First-year retention
- 76%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $43,572
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $49,156
- Median debt (graduates)
- $25,000
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 44%
- Students with federal loans
- 67%
Programs: what graduates earn
20 of 62 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Bachelor's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | 21 | $53,280 | $23,270 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 16 | $52,226 | $20,700 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 0 | $49,099 | $20,834 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 13 | $48,810 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 54 | $47,385 | $25,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 25 | $44,551 | $28,900 |
| Marketing | 14 | $42,972 | $20,931 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 83 | $42,834 | $28,000 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 19 | $38,356 | $27,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 19 | $37,641 | $20,750 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 3 | $37,138 | $23,826 |
| Psychology, General | 34 | $35,559 | $22,500 |
| Biology, General | 12 | $30,682 | $26,918 |
| Education, General | 10 | $50,997 | $22,189 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 1 | $63,832 | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 0 | $46,768 | $21,833 |
Master's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 38 | $57,228 | $29,291 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 48 | $49,397 | $31,671 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 24 | $49,323 | $60,404 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 46 | $61,003 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 1,366
- Graduate students
- 648
- Part-time
- 13%
- Women / men
- 63% / 37%
- White
- 78%
- Hispanic
- 13%
- Black
- 3%
- Asian
- 1%
- International
- 1%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 13:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $62,208 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 33%
- Accreditor
- Higher Learning Commission
- Website
- www.bvu.edu
- Also known as
- NA
Most popular fields
- Agriculture – 3% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 2% of degrees
- Education – 35% of degrees
- Biological Sciences – 4% of degrees
- Parks, Recreation & Fitness – 4% of degrees
- Psychology – 5% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Buena Vista University?
77.6% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1120 on the SAT.
How much does Buena Vista University cost?
The average net price after grants is $18,846 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $41,798 and the full cost of attendance is $54,222.
How much do Buena Vista University graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $49,156 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
62% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.