Admin v2 Preview — Sections marked with a yellow border use mock data until v2 scraping is complete.
v2 Admin
PrivateTown

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, Iowa 50588

Visit website

Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateRuralPrivateBusiness Focus

Known for business — close-knit campus

Buena Vista University is a private town institution in Storm Lake, Iowa. The school is accessible to a wide range of students, with an average SAT of 1090.

A small campus of 1.4K undergraduates with a 13:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

47% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $49,156 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $18,321.

Established
1891
Mascot
Beavers
Type
Private university
Division
Division III

Campus Visits

44 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour
36 more tours beyond 5 daysGet access →

Plan Your Visit

72%Acceptance
1090SAT Avg
1,378Students
13:1Student:Faculty
47%Grad Rate
$49,156Earnings 10yr
$18,321Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Buena Vista University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate71.8%

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 22
1825

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

71.8%

Trend

SAT Avg

1090

Yield Rate

35.0%

Get access to view details →

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$40,190
Room & Board$10,896
Books & Supplies$1,132
Total Cost of Attendance$52,490
Average Net Price$18,321
Median Debt at Graduation$25,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$265

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$14,583
$30–48K$15,328
$48–75K$16,286
$75–110K$19,059
$110K+$22,791

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

31.2%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$17,500

Get access to view details →
Get access to view details →

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

9

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

3

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (58)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

76%

Negative
  • •76% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
1,378
Gender Split
65% / 35%
Women / Men
First Generation
35%
Pell Grant Recipients
43%

Race & Ethnicity

White 79%
Black 3%
Hispanic 12%
Asian 1%
Two+ 2%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate47.3%
Freshman Retention76.3%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$43,572
10 Years$49,156

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
↑2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
↓1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
↑3
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports — BVers

College world

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MSP Minneapolis-St Paul184 mi
MCI Kansas City233 mi
STL St Louis369 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1226 mi · ~35h 25m drive
New York, NY1099 mi · ~31h 45m drive
Hartford, CT1152 mi · ~33h 17m drive
Providence, RI1215 mi · ~35h 6m drive
Albany, NY1087 mi · ~31h 24m drive
Syracuse, NY964 mi · ~27h 51m drive
Rochester, NY890 mi · ~25h 43m drive
Buffalo, NY827 mi · ~23h 53m drive
Philadelphia, PA1054 mi · ~30h 27m drive
Pittsburgh, PA800 mi · ~23h 7m drive
Harrisburg, PA961 mi · ~27h 46m drive
Newark, NJ1091 mi · ~31h 31m drive
Washington, DC983 mi · ~28h 24m drive
Baltimore, MD995 mi · ~28h 45m drive
Atlanta, GA849 mi · ~24h 32m drive
Charlotte, NC925 mi · ~26h 43m drive
Raleigh, NC1003 mi · ~28h 59m drive
Miami, FL1443 mi · ~41h 41m drive
Orlando, FL1243 mi · ~35h 55m drive
Tampa, FL1241 mi · ~35h 51m drive
Nashville, TN634 mi · ~18h 19m drive
New Orleans, LA922 mi · ~26h 38m drive
Richmond, VA1001 mi · ~28h 55m drive
Chicago, IL391 mi · ~11h 18m drive
Detroit, MI620 mi · ~17h 55m drive
Minneapolis, MN188 mi · ~5h 26m drive
St. Louis, MO382 mi · ~11h 2m drive
Kansas City, MO247 mi · ~7h 8m drive
Indianapolis, IN510 mi · ~14h 44m drive
Columbus, OH660 mi · ~19h 4m drive
Cleveland, OH697 mi · ~20h 8m drive
Milwaukee, WI371 mi · ~10h 43m drive
Dallas, TX687 mi · ~19h 51m drive
Houston, TX890 mi · ~25h 43m drive
Austin, TX866 mi · ~25h 1m drive
San Antonio, TX931 mi · ~26h 54m drive
Los Angeles, CA1376 mi · ~39h 45m drive
San Francisco, CA1468 mi · ~42h 25m drive
San Diego, CA1377 mi · ~39h 47m drive
Seattle, WA1358 mi · ~39h 14m drive
Portland, OR1371 mi · ~39h 36m drive
Denver, CO546 mi · ~15h 46m drive
Phoenix, AZ1113 mi · ~32h 9m drive
Salt Lake City, UT869 mi · ~25h 6m drive
Honolulu, HI3861 mi · ~111h 32m drive
Upper Midwest / Northeast (cold winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Minneapolis-St Paul (MSP)184 miles
Rental car
276 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
368 min$221-368
Kansas City (MCI)233 miles
Rental car
350 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
466 min$280-466

Deadline Calendar

Get access to view details →

Buena Vista University Application Checklist

Get access to view details →

Decision Notifications

Get access to view details →
Buena Vista University — v2 Preview — TourStack