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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.
Buena Vista University is a private comprehensive higher education institution located in Storm Lake, IA. This academic institution uses a 4-1-4 calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 77%. The freshman retention rate at Buena Vista University is 77% and the six-year graduation rate is 62%.
Read more about what Buena Vista University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
810
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$40,190
Tuition
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
62%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission. Here are the most relevant facts you have to know about admission at Buena Vista University.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,078 in 2025. Buena Vista University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant chooses to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 3, 37 between 24-29, 41 in the range between 18-23, and 19 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the accepted students in 2025 was 22 while the average GPA was 3.41. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance, as well as an above-average ACT score.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Buena Vista University was 77%, a testament to the outstanding educational experience provided by this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 62%.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Buena Vista University in 2025 was 1,264.
That year, the institution had 30% of students coming from another state. There was a total of 810 undergraduate students, including 11 international students. 40 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 397 male and 421 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense 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 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 12, while the number of Afro-American students was 29. 109 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 12 as multirace. There were also 9 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. Here are some important data on Buena Vista University costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Buena Vista University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $40,190 in 2025. As Buena Vista University is a private institution, 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 take into account 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 $1,132.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Buena Vista University was $10,896 per academic year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 was $5,266 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 40,190 |
| Room and Board | $ 10,896 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,132 |
| Total Expense | $ 52,218 |
Financial Aid
Financial support for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based aid students could get at Buena Vista University.
The most recent records show that 196 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $37,169 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
647 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 651. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $2,242,381, and state $2,841,399. The students of Buena Vista University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $16,154,087, and external in the amount of $443,938.
$26,841
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-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.
134 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 35 full-time freshman. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $2,242,381 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $192,484. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $4,773,597. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $310,778 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
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Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Buena Vista University was 13:1: that means 13 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 97 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 35 male and 62 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Buena Vista University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some details about campus life at Buena Vista University.
Its campus spans 60 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There are 50 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. The student organization that is most favored by students is Student Mobilizing Outreach and Volunteer Efforts, followed by Student Senate and Esprit De Corps. Other popular organizations among the students at Buena Vista University are Orientation Team and Student Activities Board.
If you are interested in music, you 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
At Buena Vista University, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
This school has a health 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. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Buena Vista University is located in Storm Lake, IA.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 40,190 USD per academic year for Buena Vista University.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Buena Vista University is 77%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Buena Vista University is 77%.
Contact Information
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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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.