At a glance
Average net price
$18,846
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
61.7%
Admission rate
78%
Undergrad size
1,366
In-state tuition
$41,798
Out-of-state tuition
$41,798
Cost of attendance
$54,222
Median earnings (10y)
$49,156
Admissions
- SAT average
- 1,120
- ACT midpoint
- 22
- Retention
- 76.0%
- Locale
- Town
Programs breakdown
20 program areas reported · Heavily focused on social sciences (53% of credentials).
- STEM5%
- Health2%
- Business25%
- Humanities & arts7%
- Social sciences53%
- Trades & services8%
- Education32.8%~448 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Business25.2%~344 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- ~167 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Psychology6.1%~83 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Agriculture4.2%~57 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~33 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~33 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Communication2.2%~30 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Computer science1.7%~23 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~23 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~23 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~23 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- History1.2%~17 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Legal1.0%~13 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Social sciences1.0%~13 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~10 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Liberal arts0.5%~7 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Mathematics0.5%~7 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~7 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- English0.2%~3 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
39 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor's | 168 | $37,262 | $41,996 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor's | 114 | $39,042 | $31,000 |
| Human Services, General. | Bachelor's | 111 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services. | Master's | 93 | $45,249 | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction. | Master's | 84 | $58,501 | — |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor's | 71 | $29,420 | $32,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master's | 64 | — | — |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor's | 58 | $44,901 | $27,000 |
| Special Education and Teaching. | Master's | 56 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Bachelor's | 48 | $38,301 | $29,008 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor's | 41 | $38,278 | $27,000 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Bachelor's | 39 | — | $22,987 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor's | 37 | $38,989 | $27,000 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor's | 35 | $30,756 | $27,000 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Master's | 35 | — | — |
| Marketing. | Bachelor's | 34 | $38,530 | $25,994 |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design. | Master's | 28 | — | — |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 27 | — | $27,000 |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language. | Master's | 26 | — | — |
| Agricultural Business and Management. | Bachelor's | 20 | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs. | Bachelor's | 17 | — | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. | Bachelor's | 14 | $24,599 | — |
| Education, General. | Bachelor's | 14 | — | $32,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | Bachelor's | 12 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor's | 12 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching. | Bachelor's | 10 | — | — |
| Social Work. | Bachelor's | 10 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor's | 9 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor's | 8 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | Bachelor's | 8 | $32,246 | $34,965 |
| Criminology. | Bachelor's | 8 | — | — |
| Animal Sciences. | Bachelor's | 7 | — | — |
| Graphic Communications. | Bachelor's | 7 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor's | 6 | — | — |
| Computer Systems Analysis. | Bachelor's | 5 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor's | 5 | — | — |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies. | Bachelor's | 5 | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations. | Bachelor's | — | $38,198 | $27,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services. | Bachelor's | — | $38,936 | $27,312 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About Buena Vista University
Buena Vista University is a mid-sized institution located in Storm Lake, Iowa, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 1,366 undergraduate students in a town setting. The most popular fields of study include Education, Business, Public administration.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at Buena Vista University — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $18,846 per year, which is moderately priced compared to other U.S. institutions. Published tuition is $41,798 per year before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $54,222 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 61.7%, a above-average completion outcome. 76.0% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $49,156 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
Buena Vista University confers degrees and certificates across 20 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Education, Business, Public administration. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by social sciences (53% of credentials), business (25% of credentials), trades & services (8% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
Buena Vista University accepts 78% of applicants, making it moderately selective. Admitted students have an average SAT score around 1,120. The ACT midpoint for admitted students is roughly 22.
Location & campus
Set in Storm Lake, Iowa (town), Buena Vista University draws students from across Iowa and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about Buena Vista University
Q.How much does Buena Vista University cost?
The average net price at Buena Vista University is $18,846 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $54,222.
Q.What is the graduation rate at Buena Vista University?
Buena Vista University has a 6-year graduation rate of 61.7% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into Buena Vista University?
Buena Vista University admits 78% of applicants, which is considered moderately selective.
Q.How much do Buena Vista University graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median Buena Vista University graduate earns $49,156 per year.
Q.What is tuition at Buena Vista University?
Published tuition is $41,798 in-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is Buena Vista University located?
Buena Vista University is located in Storm Lake, Iowa (ZIP 50588).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with Buena Vista University at their official website.