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Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, Iowa 50588

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Campus Vibe

Tight-knitCollege townGreek life

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
Conference
American Rivers Conference (formerly the Iowa
Division
Division III

Campus Visits

114 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Apr 13 · Campus Tour
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

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

Admissions

Acceptance Rate71.8%

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 22
1825

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

71.8%

Trend

SAT Avg

1090

Yield Rate

35.0%

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

Financial Intel

Avg Net Price

$18,321

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

3100.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$17,500

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

9

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Programs (58)

Student Life

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
8 Years$46,276
10 Years$49,156

10-Year Earnings by Gender

Women
$37,700
Men
$51,800

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
Forbes
#52

More About This School

Varsity Sports — BVers

History & Fun Facts

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

89Low

Estimated from IA state average

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 60"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Minneapolispop. 430K
188 mi(326 min)
Kansas Citypop. 500K
247 mi(428 min)
Milwaukeepop. 570K
371 mi(643 min)

Getting There

Visit Planning

Deadline Calendar

Buena Vista University Application Checklist

Decision Notifications