School Overview
Buena Vista University (BVU) is private four-year higher education institution located on a 60-acre campus in Storm Lake, Iowa–just a stones through a way from the shores of Storm Lake, a beautiful 3,000 plus acre natural lake. The university was established in 1891 and is affiliate with the Presbyterian Church, although students from all religious backgrounds and faiths are welcome to attend. BVU offers a rigorous undergraduate liberal arts education complemented by a hands-on learning philosophy, internships and study abroad programs. The university has a nationally recognized faculty that has been awarded one of the most prestigious teaching awards in the nation, the George Wythe Award for Teaching Excellence. The student-to-faculty ratio at BVU is roughly 13 to 1 and students recieve personalized instruction and attention from their professors.
Buena Vista University’s main campus has an average annual enrollment of roughly 1,200 students and offers bachelor degree programs in 42 fields of study and academic disciplines. In addition to its main campus in Storm Lake, BVU has 15 graduate and professional studies centers throughout Iowa and an online campus that together serve an additional 1,400 students. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Buena Vista University among the top 20 Midwestern Comprehensive Colleges and 11th for academic excellence in the Midwestern Baccalaureate category.
General Information
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Admission Office 610 West Fourth Street Storm Lake, IA 50588 (712) 749-2235 (800) 383-9600 Fax: (712) 749-2037 [email protected] Contact: Alan Coheley Vice President, Enrollment Management |
Main Address 610 West Fourth Street Storm Lake, IA 50588 (712) 749-2400 www.bvu.edu |
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Size Total undergrads: 968 First-time degree-seeking freshmen: 274 Degree-seeking undergrads: 957 Graduate enrollment: 102 Setting |
Degrees offered: |
Admissions Information
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Application Fee College has an application fee: No |
Enrollment Rates Percent applicants admitted: 75% Percent of students who return for sophomore year: 72% |
College Majors
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Arts, Visual & Performing Art – General B Biological & Biomedical Sciences Biology B Business, Management, & Marketing Accounting B Communications & Journalism Communications/Rhetoric B Computer & Information Sciences Education Art Teacher Education B English Language & Literature English Language & Literature – General B Foreign Language & Literature Spanish B Health Professions & Clinical Sciences Athletic Training/Sports Medicine B History History – General B Mathematics Mathematics – General B Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies Biological/Physical Sciences B Natural Resources & Conservation Environmental Science B Parks, Recreation & Fitness Exercise Sciences B Philosophy & Religion Philosophy B Physical Sciences Chemistry B Psychology Psychology – General B Public Administration & Services Public Administration B Security & Protective Services Criminal Justice Studies B Social Sciences Political Science/Government B |
Degree levels for each major are designated by the following letters:
B = Bachelor’s degree C = Certificate or diploma |
*We do not guarantee the accuracy of information on this page. All information is subject to change. You should confirm all information with a college admissions officer.
Buena Vista University Highlights
School Information
| Phone Number: | (712) 749-2400 |
| Website: | https://www.bvu.edu |
| Type of School: | 4-year, Private non-profit |
| Apply Online: | https://www.bvu.edu/apply |
| Address: | 610 W 4th St, Storm Lake, IA 50588 |
| Setting: | Town: Remote |
| Campus Housing: | Yes |
Students & Programs
| Student Population: | 1,846 |
| 6-yr Graduation Rate (Bachelor's): | 53% |
| Student-to-faculty Ratio: | 8 to 1 |
| Distance Learning Programs: | Yes |
| Distance Learning Students*: | 859 (47% of total students) |
| Degree Levels Offered: | Bachelor's, Master's |
* Students taking at least 1 distance learning course
Tuition & Financial Aid*
| In-state Tuition: | $34,004 |
| Out-of-state Tuition: | $34,004 |
| % of Students Receiving Financial Aid: | 100% |
| Avg. Amount of Grant or Scholarship Aid Awarded: | $24,772 |
* Full-time beginning undergraduate students. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
Buena Vista University Programs
See the degree programs that are offered at Buena Vista University.
| Degree Name | Cert | Assoc | Bach | Mast | Doct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences | 2 | ||||
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services | 13 | 1 | |||
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs | 5 | ||||
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services | 4 | ||||
| Education | 21 | 7 | |||
| English Language and Literature/Letters | 1 | ||||
| Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 | ||||
| Health Professions and Related Programs | 1 | ||||
| History | 1 | ||||
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and Related Protective Service | 1 | ||||
| Legal Professions and Studies | 1 | ||||
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 2 | ||||
| Mathematics and Statistics | 2 | ||||
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 2 | ||||
| Natural Resources and Conservation | 1 | ||||
| Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies | 2 | ||||
| Philosophy and Religious Studies | 1 | ||||
| Physical Sciences | 2 | ||||
| Psychology | 2 | 1 | |||
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions | 2 | ||||
| Social Sciences | 3 | ||||
| Visual and Performing Arts | 8 | ||||
| Grand total | 78 | 9 |
* Based on programs that produced 2018-2019 graduates
Tuition & Financial Aid
See what it costs to enroll at Buena Vista University and how many students are receiving scholarships, grants, or loans as financial aid to help cover the costs of tuition.
Undergraduate Student Tuition
Average tuition and fees for academic year:
| Tuition and Fees | 2018-2019 |
|---|---|
| In-state | $34,004 |
| Out-of-state | $34,004 |
| Books and supplies | $999 |
Graduate Student Tuition
Average tuition and fees for academic year:
| Tuition and Fees | 2018-2019 |
|---|---|
| In-state | $9,594 |
| Out-of-state | $9,594 |
Undergraduate Student Financial Aid, 2017-2018
Full-time Beginning Undergraduate Students
| Type of Aid | Number Receiving Aid | % Receiving Aid | Avg. Amt. of Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any student financial aid | 202 | 100% | – |
| Grant or scholarship aid | 201 | 99% | $24,772 |
| Student loan aid | 173 | 85% | $7,942 |
All Undergraduate Students
| Type of Aid | Number Receiving Aid | % Receiving Aid | Avg. Amt. of Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant or scholarship aid | 1,545 | 86% | $14,117 |
| Federal student loans | 1,377 | 76% | $7,714 |
Admissions & Enrollment
See the admission requirements for Buena Vista University. Find out how many students apply and how many are accepted. View a graphical breakdown of the gender, age, and ethnicity of currently enrolled Buena Vista University students.
Undergraduate Admissions, Fall 2019
| Total | Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of applicants | 2,055 | 1,158 | 897 | Percent admitted | 100% | 64% | 49% |
| Percent admitted who enrolled | 10% | 9% | 11% |
Admissions Considerations
| Required | Recommended | Optional | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary school GPA | |||
| Secondary school rank | |||
| Secondary school record | |||
| Completion of college-preparatory program | |||
| Recommendations | |||
| Formal demonstration of competencies | |||
| Admission test scores | |||
| Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.) | |||
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language |
Buena Vista University Enrollment, Fall 2019
| Total Enrollment | 1,846 |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,619 |
| Graduate enrollment | 227 |
Undergraduate Attendance
Undergraduate Gender
Undergraduate Age
Undergraduate Race/Ethnicity
Undergraduate Distance Education
Undergraduates taking 100%, Some, or No Distance Education
Graduate Distance Education
Graduate students taking 100%, Some, or No Distance Education
Buena Vista University Accreditation
This institution is accredited by Higher Learning Commission
Specialized institution accreditations:
*General information for this school has been gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) database, a service provided by the U.S. Department of Education. CollegeAtlas.org does not guarantee the accuracy of information on this page. All information is subject to change. You should confirm all information with a college admissions officer.
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