Buena Vista University
School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More
About Buena Vista University
School Type: Private
Religious Affiliation: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Status: Non-profit
Military Friendly: No
Accreditation: regional
Buena Vista University is a small private university located on a rural campus in Storm Lake, Iowa. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 791, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 78%. The university offers 75 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 58%, and a student-faculty ratio of 12:1. Tuition and fees for students are $38,644.
Rankings
Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.
- #2 Ranked in Best Online Secondary Education Programs
- #10 Ranked in Best Online Criminology Programs 2024
Admissions Breakdown
Retention Rate Insight
75.5% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.
Graduation Rate Insight
58% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.
Application Considerations
Test scoresNot required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High school transcriptRequired
High school rankNot required for admission, but considered if submitted
Letter of recommendationNot required for admission, but considered if submitted
High school GPARequired to be considered for admission
Open admissionNo
Completion of college prep programNot required for admission, but considered if submitted
Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Transfer Credit Policy
Dual enrollmentYes
Credit for qualified life experience*Yes
Advance placement (AP) creditsYes
*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.
SAT & ACT
ACT 25th-75th Percentile20-24
SAT 25th-75th Percentile970-1065
Learning Environment
Student Body Stats
2k
Students enrolled
91%
Online student enrollment
12:1
Student to faculty ratio
Ways Students Can Learn
Demographics
White
43%
Unknown
2%
Black
2%
Hispanic
8%
Two or more races
2%
Non-U.S. Citizen
1%
Asian
1%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
Socio-economic diversity
40% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.
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Online Programs
Offers Online Programs
Yes
Online Programs
36
Total Online Enrollment
1,169
Student Location Breakout
Bar graph visual depicting student location breakout percentages.91% online, 9% on-campus.
Percent of Programs Online
58% On-campus
42% Online
Types of Online Programs Offered
CertificatesNot offered
AssociateNot offered
Bachelor's37% online
Graduate CertificateNot offered
Master's80% online
DoctorateNot offered
Student Charges
Tuition and Required Fees
| Student Level | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $59,784 | $59,784 |
| Graduate | $54,672 | $54,672 |
Cost of Undergraduate Attendance
Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.
| Costs to Consider | Price |
|---|---|
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| On-campus room and board | $17,758 |
| On-campus other expenses | $2,600 |
| Off-campus (not with family) room and board | Currently unavailable |
| Off-campus (not with family) other expenses | Currently unavailable |
| Off-campus (with family) other expenses | Currently unavailable |
Total Undergraduate Cost
| Total cost by category | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| On-campus | $81,342 | $81,342 |
| Off-campus without family | $60,984 | $60,984 |
| Off-campus with family | $60,984 | $60,984 |
Financial Breakdown
Students Receiving Aid
Federal Grant Aid
63%
State Grant Aid
38%
Institution Grant Aid
100%
Pell Grant
40%
Average Aid Awarded
Financial Outlook
$25k
Average student debtafter graduation
$36k
Average salary 6 years after starting school
Varsity Athletic Teams
NCAA Division I-FCS
of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.
Participation
- All Track Combined
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Wrestling
- Other Sports
- Softball
- Volleyball
Degrees Awarded by Program
Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.
| # | Programs | BA | MA | Doc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields. | |||
| 2 | Biological And Biomedical Sciences. | |||
| 3 | Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services. | |||
| 4 | Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs. | |||
| 5 | Communications Technologies/Technicians And Support Services. | |||
| 6 | Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services. | |||
| 7 | Education. | |||
| 8 | English Language And Literature/Letters. | |||
| 9 | Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics. | |||
| 10 | Health Professions And Related Programs. | |||
| 11 | History. | |||
| 12 | Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services. | |||
| 13 | Legal Professions And Studies. | |||
| 14 | Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities. | |||
| 15 | Mathematics And Statistics. | |||
| 16 | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. | |||
| 17 | Natural Resources And Conservation. | |||
| 18 | Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology. | |||
| 19 | Physical Sciences. | |||
| 20 | Psychology. | |||
| 21 | Public Administration And Social Service Professions. | |||
| 22 | Social Sciences. | |||
| 23 | Visual And Performing Arts. |
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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.