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Buena Vista University
Buena Vista University says yes to 77.6% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $49,156 median earnings.
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Buena Vista University anchors the college town of Storm Lake, IA, where the private campus and town largely share a footprint. The school maintains its Presbyterian Church (USA) affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Finance and Financial Management Services, where graduates median $63,950 four years out. 43.8% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 1,366 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 76% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 18 and 25 on the ACT composite. Put your own practice estimate on Buena Vista University's range with the ACT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Buena Vista University received 1,544 applications and admitted 1,108 (71.8%), with 217 enrolling.
Buena Vista University is test-optional — scores count when submitted, none required. Buena Vista University's submitters' middle half scored 18–25 on the ACT; read that as the stronger-tester end of the admitted class.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 18 | 21 | 25 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Buena Vista University compares
| Buena Vista University | Iowa median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 77.6% | 80.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $41,798 | $36,684 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $49,156 | $55,396 | $53,781 |
At $49,156, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($55,396). Look at Buena Vista University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $41,798 regardless of where you're from. At Buena Vista University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
Enrollment sits at 1,366 — Buena Vista University is one of the smaller campuses on this site.
61.7% graduate within six years. Roughly 38% don't — ask a Buena Vista University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Buena Vista University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $63,950 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $63,832 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $63,454 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $58,540 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $58,440 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $56,329 |
| Marketing | $55,330 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,736 |
| Education, General | $50,997 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $49,281 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $48,048 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $45,573 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $45,185 |
| Psychology, General | $44,755 |
Median earnings for these 14 Buena Vista University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $49,156 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 40 additional Buena Vista University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Buena Vista University?
The middle 50% of Buena Vista University's submitters earned ACT composites of 18–25; no GPA cutoff is published.
What is Buena Vista University's acceptance rate?
71.8% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,108 admitted from 1,544 applicants.
How much does Buena Vista University cost?
At Buena Vista University, published tuition is $41,798 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Buena Vista University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Buena Vista University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $49,156 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Iowa
- Clarke University — 71.8% admitted
- Coe College — 64% admitted
- Cornell College — 79.9% admitted
- Dordt University — 68.5% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.