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Buena Vista University

Liaison Partner

Storm Lake, IA

Buena Vista University (BVU) is a private university located in Storm Lake, Iowa, United States. Established in 1891, BVU has a long and rich history of providing quality education to its students. It offers a wide range of undergraduate programs in various disciplines, as well as several graduate programs.

At Buena Vista University, students benefit from a close-knit community and a supportive learning environment. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1, students are able to receive personalized attention from their professors. The university focuses on experiential and hands-on learning, encouraging students to apply their knowledge in real-life situations through internships, research opportunities, and community engagement.

BVU is committed to helping students develop into well-rounded individuals. Along with their academic pursuits, students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities, including athletics, student organizations, and the arts. The university also emphasizes the importance of service and leadership, providing numerous opportunities for community service and campus involvement. Graduates of BVU are well-prepared for their future careers, as the university's career services department offers exceptional support in terms of professional development, job placement, and networking opportunities. Overall, Buena Vista University provides a comprehensive education that prepares students for success in their personal and professional lives.

Located in Storm Lake, IA, Buena Vista University is a private comprehensive higher education institution. This educational institution operates on a 4-1-4 calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 77%. The freshman retention rate at Buena Vista University is 75.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 58%.

To find out more about what Buena Vista University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.

Quick Facts

791

Total Number of Undergraduate Students

77%

Acceptance Rate

$40,190

Tuition

12:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

58%

Graduation Rate

Admissions

If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Here are the most vital facts you need to know about admission at Buena Vista University.

According to the newest information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,183 in 2023. Buena Vista University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the student. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.

Test Scores

Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 3% and ACT scores 57%. 14% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 57% between 1,000 and 1,199 and 29% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 7, 23 between 24-29, 60 in the range between 18-23, and 10 between 12-17.

The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2023 was 22 and the average GPA was 3.49. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission, as well as an above-average ACT score.

Average Test Scores

Retention Rate

The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.

The freshman retention rate for Buena Vista University was 75.5% in 2023, a reflection of the high standards and excellent educational experience at this school.

The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 58%.

Student Body

Making the decision of which school is the best fit for you is not easy. Gaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.

Main Student Body

In 2023, the institution had an enrollment of 1,290 students.

That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 34. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 791, 9 of which were foreign students. The school reported to have a total of 34 transfer students.

Student Population Gender Ratio

With a coeducational student body, the school had 394 male and 375 female full-time students in 2023. This school had 0 full-time graduate male and 9 full-time graduate female students at this school.

Student Population Diversity

Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Buena Vista University.

In 2023, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 8, while the number of African American students was 29. 105 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 21 identified with more than one race. The school also had 2 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 6 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 27 students whose ethnicity is unknown.

Cost

The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.

Tuition and Fees

Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition cost for this university.

Tuition in 2023 was $40,190 for full-time domestic students. Buena Vista University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students.

Books and Supplies

When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,126.

Boarding

Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?

The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Buena Vista University was $10,896 in 2023. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school added up to $5,266, according to the data from 2023.

Tuition $ 40,190
Room and Board $ 10,896
Book and Supplies $ 1,126
Total Expense $ 52,212

Financial Aid

Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial aid can be a great deal for many students. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Buena Vista University, here are some recent data you should consider.

The most recent records show that 202 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $32,846 in financial help.

Need-based

Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.

There were 638 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 641. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $1,719,141, and state $2,186,370. The students of Buena Vista University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $14,421,056, and external in the amount of $343,522.

$23,904

Average Amount of Aid Received

Non-Need Based

Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.

Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 138 students overall (including freshmen) at Buena Vista University in 2023. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 38 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $1,719,141 while the state aid is $288,074. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $3,727,998. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $127,351 USD.

Open Applications

Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.

The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)

Fall 2025

Apply

Majors

Faculty

12:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.

In 2023, this ratio at Buena Vista University was 12:1. That means that there were 12 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 55 faculty members. This number included 40 male and 51 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Buena Vista University.

Student Population Diversity Graph

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100
0
100

Campus Life

It is not all about learning and grades at Buena Vista University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about campus life at Buena Vista University.

Its campus spans 60 acres.

Student Organizations

Exploring a variety of student organizations can contribute to a more vibrant and rewarding educational experience.

This school has 47 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Student Mobilizing Outreach and Volunteer Efforts, followed by Student Senate and Esprit De Corps. Other popular organizations at Buena Vista University are Orientation Team and Student Activities Board.

Students interested in music can join the Buena Vista University band or chorus. You have a talent for media and communication? Buena Vista University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.

Student Services

Buena Vista University offers a number of services important for a pleasant and secure life on campus.

There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.

There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Buena Vista University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.

Career Services

Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Buena Vista University.

Career Counselling

At Buena Vista University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.

FAQ

Buena Vista University is located in Storm Lake, IA.

The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Buena Vista University is 40,190 USD, based on the most recent data.

This school uses standardized test scores for admission.

According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Buena Vista University is 77%.

The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Buena Vista University is 75.5%.

Contact Information

Buena Vista University,

610 West Fourth Street

Storm Lake, IA

50588

712 749-2400

School Website

Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.

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