Buena Vista University
#2 Best Education Colleges in Iowa- Graduation Rate
- 54% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $49,156 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $18,846 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 78% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.0 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Education Colleges in Iowa.
Every $1 spent returns $15.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,055,206.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 21% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $15.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Buena Vista University Matters
Buena Vista University is a private university in Storm Lake, IA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,366
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 66
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Buena Vista University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 78% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $18,846 a year after grants and scholarships — 10% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $49,156 ten years after enrolling — 21% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 41% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.72 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Buena Vista University has a 78% acceptance rate, making it accessible to a wide range of students. This statistic reflects the university's commitment to welcoming diverse applicants and supporting them through their educational journey.
According to Opportunity Insights data, specific mobility metrics for Buena Vista University are not available. However, the mix of programs in education, business, psychology, and the sciences suggests that students can find paths that align with their career goals. The average earnings for graduates 10 years after enrollment sit at $49,156, indicating a solid return on investment for many students.
The net price to attend Buena Vista University is $18,846, with a median debt of $25,000 upon graduation. Approximately 44% of students receive Pell Grants, highlighting support for low-income students. Those who thrive here are likely to be individuals seeking a supportive community in a smaller university setting, with a focus on practical programs that lead to steady employment.
Rankings
- #2 Best Education Colleges in Iowa
- #6 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Iowa
- #7 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Mathematics
- #7 Most Affordable Online Master's in Mathematics
- #8 Best Online Bachelor's in Mathematics
- #8 Best Online Master's in Mathematics
- #9 Best Online Mathematics Programs
- #11 Best Business Colleges in Iowa
Can I Get In?
How selective Buena Vista University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Buena Vista University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Storm Lake, Iowa, Buena Vista University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,120. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 78%
- Retention Rate
- 76%
- SAT Average
- 1120
- ACT Midpoint
- 22
- ACT Range
- 19–26
- Full-Time Faculty
- 33%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,912
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.37
- First-Gen Students
- 35%
- Applicants
- 1,562
- Admitted
- 1,207
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Buena Vista University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Buena Vista University is $41,798, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,846. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,901 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $41,798
- Out-of-State
- $41,798
- Avg Net Price
- $18,846
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 44%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 67%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,901
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,838
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $18,094
- Family Income $110K+
- $24,967
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Buena Vista University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Buena Vista University earn a median of $49,156, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $43,572
- 8 Years
- $46,276
- 10 Years
- $49,156
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.51x
- Earning > $25K
- 71%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (113)
- 56%
- 100% (113)
- 56%
- 100% (113)
- 56%
- 100% (113)
- 56%
How Buena Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Buena Vista University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Buena Vista University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,846/year ($75,384 total). Graduates earn $49,156 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,130,590 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,055,206 (15.0× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 54% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $75,384
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,130,590
- Net Return
- $1,055,206
- ROI Multiple
- 15.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $18,846
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 54%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Buena Vista University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Buena Vista University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.64%, well above the typical college. About 5.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 28.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $69,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.64%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 28.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $69,800
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,656,679
- Investment Income
- $-7,081,110
Top Programs
The fields Buena Vista University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Education 35%
- Business & Marketing 22%
- Psychology 5%
- Criminal Justice 5%
- Biology & Biomedical 4%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
- Health Professions 2%
- Social Sciences 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Buena Vista University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Buena Vista University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Storm Lake, Iowa, Buena Vista University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,120. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Buena Vista University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Buena Vista University is $41,798, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,846. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,901 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is Buena Vista University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Buena Vista University earn a median of $49,156, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Buena Vista University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Buena Vista University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.64%, well above the typical college. About 5.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 28.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $69,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Buena Vista University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Buena Vista University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.72, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Buena Vista University.
- Muskingum UniversityNew Concord, OH · Close peer55% grad $48,440 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Catawba CollegeSalisbury, NC · Close peer50% grad $48,793 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Georgian Court UniversityLakewood, NJ · Close peer54% grad $53,096 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Gardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, NC · Close peer59% grad $48,039 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Carson-Newman UniversityJefferson City, TN · Close peer50% grad $48,382 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Virginia Wesleyan UniversityVirginia Beach, VA · Close peer46% grad $50,074 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Buena Vista University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Buena Vista University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.72, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note