ACCEPTANCE RATE
71.8%
More selective than 52% of listed universities.
SelectiveAccessible
Private University
Buena Vista University
Buena Vista University offers a student-centered education in Storm Lake, Iowa, combining hands-on learning with flexible online programs and graduate degrees designed for real careers.
71.8%ACCEPTANCE
$18,156AVG NET PRICE
47%GRAD RATE
1,951STUDENTS
University data profileIPEDS 2023
No photo
Storm Lake, IATown: Remote
THE SIGNATURE
Buena Vista University Report Card
Explore university facts, programs, and campus life at a glance.
Buena Vista University is a private nonprofit four-year institution located on the shores of Storm Lake. The campus operates under the affiliation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and maintains a total enrollment of 1,951 students.
Academic offerings include 77 undergraduate majors alongside graduate programs designed for working professionals seeking career advancement. The university emphasizes a welcoming community with hands-on opportunities, campus traditions, and experiences that help students connect and grow.
AT A GLANCE
TypePrivateFour or more years
Founded1891
SettingTown: Remote
Calendarsemester
Religious affiliationPresbyterian Church (USA)
Athletics—
GETTING IN
Admissions
Applicants to Buena Vista University can apply through a rolling admissions process with no application fee required. The university reports an acceptance rate of 71.8 percent based on data from 1,544 applicants. Prospective students should note that the reported SAT math midpoint for admitted students is a statistic regarding accepted cohorts rather than a requirement for all applicants.
Source: IPEDS 2023
SAT RANGE (MID 50%)
SAT range is not reported.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Not reportedNo application fee.
WHAT IT COSTS
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker price tells you little — net price after aid is what most families actually pay.
Source: IPEDS 2023
IN-STATE TUITION & FEES
$40,190/yr
Out-of-state: $40,190/yr.
Net price by income band
$0–$30,000
$30,001–$48,000
$48,001–$75,000
$75,001–$110,000
$110,001+
AVERAGE NET PRICE AFTER AID
$18,156/yr
▼ 2% since 2020-2189% receive aid
Average aid package $21,333.
IN THE CLASSROOM
Academics
The institution features 60+ programs designed to help students find their path and build their future. Academic strengths include extensive education tracks, business concentrations, and specialized endorsement areas such as agricultural education and special education instruction.
Source: IPEDS 2023
Student–faculty ratio
13:1
6-year graduation rate
47%
▼ 6 pts since 2016
First-year retention
76%
Compared with the 89% public-university median.
Undergrad majors
77
Undergraduate majors and programs
MOST POPULAR FIELDS OF STUDY
Elementary Education and Teaching.21.5%
Human Services, General.10.6%
Business Administration and Management, General.7.5%
Psychology, General.6.5%
Accounting.5.2%
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies.4.7%
CAMPUS LIFE
Campus & Housing
Campus housing shows how many students live on-campus — which means nearby housing can be essential to the college experience.
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On-campus beds
770
—
Students needing off-campus housing
—
—
Setting
Town: Remote
IN CONTEXT
Buena Vista University vs. peer institutions
How Buena Vista University compares with officially identified or editorially reviewed peer institutions.
Buena Vista University
$18,156
Briar Cliff University
$23,292
Central College
$22,499
AFTER GRADUATION
Student outcomes
What graduates earn and how reliably they land work — the bottom-line return on the degree.
Source: College Scorecard 2025
Median earnings · 10 yrs after entry
$49,156
Compared with earnings for graduates of similar universities.
Working after 10 yrs
92.3%
Share of former students working and not enrolled, ten years after entry.
Earning more than a high-school graduate
79.8%
79.8% of students out-earn the typical high-school graduate — a core measure of mobility.
LIVE HERE
Apartments near Buena Vista University
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Buena Vista University students who start their housing search early get first pick of the apartments closest to campus — and the best prices.
0Nearby listings
—Average monthly rent
—Closest walk to campus
Data Sources: U.S. Department of Education IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics. University Apartments is not affiliated with Buena Vista University.