Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Buena Vista University is a private regional university located in Storm Lake, Iowa. Buena Vista University is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Buena Vista University is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $44,699 10 years after enrolling, 26th in Iowa, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Buena Vista University bachelor students earn 8% less than the national average. Buena Vista University is ranked 19th in Iowa.
Buena Vista University’s median net annual cost of $18,054 and average years to graduate of 4.2 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Buena Vista University sorted by number of graduates - Education, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other, Business Administration, Education (subject specific), Accounting, Psychology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$18,054
Average years to graduate
4.2
Finance
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 2.76
HR Management
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 3.74
Marketing
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 4.05
Entrepreneurship
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 4.06
Health & Fitness
Rank: #189
Economic score: 6.02
Criminal Justice
Rank: #333
Economic score: 9.23
Social Work
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 37.88
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 2 graduate programs at Buena Vista University - Student Counseling, Curriculum and Instruction - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.2 years. 59% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Buena Vista University is 6% lower than the state average, and 1% above the average for all regional universities in the country.
At Buena Vista University, Pell Grant recipients represent 47% of the measured graduating class, 12% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Buena Vista University graduates within 4.1 years.
Buena Vista University is in the top 10% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Buena Vista University’s economic mobility score of 19.78 is calculated by adjusting the 4.32 economic score of lower-income students by the 47% pell grant recipients within the student body. Buena Vista University’s EMS of 19.78 ranks in the top 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Buena Vista University pays $18,054 a year, $31,519 less than the $49,573 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $18,054
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Buena Vista University, 100% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $18,054 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 73% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $7,862. This is 19% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,750
Pell grants
$4,656
State grants
$5,908
Institutional grants
$25,603
Buena Vista University offers 25 online bachelor programs, 3 of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Buena Vista University offers 8 programs, all of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
33
Hybrid programs
22
Percentage of programs online
40%
Buena Vista University's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 66% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 1,749 applicants, of which 1,154 were admitted and 237 enrolled. Buena Vista University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
89%
83%
Female
69%
59%
First time
27%
59%
In-state
64%
68%
1st generation
35%
35%
White
74%
52%
Black
3%
14%
Hispanic
10%
15%
Asian
1%
5%
American Indian
1%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
11%
12%