Back to Colleges

Basic Information

Type Private, Liberal Arts
Geographical Reach Regional
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian
Location Storm Lake, IA
Population 20,000
Website http://www.bvu.edu/
Map of the United States

Weather

Comfortable Days 105 (50%)
Sunshine Hours 2,700 (67%)
Days Without Precipitation 260 (76%)

Demographics

Total Undergraduates 1,243
Men / Women 38% / 62%
From State 71%
From Region 18%
Athletes 37.2%

Racial/Ethnic

White 78%
Hispanic 11%
Black 3%
Asian 2%
Mixed 2%
International 1%
Native American 0%

Men in the Entering Class

Men
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Men: 55.7% 55.7% 2012 Men: 48.0% 48.0% 2013 Men: 47.6% 47.6% 2014 Men: 51.7% 51.7% 2015 Men: 54.7% 54.7% 2016 Men: 57.4% 57.4% 2017 Men: 66.0% 66.0% 2018 Men: 52.2% 52.2% 2019 Men: 54.3% 54.3% 2020 Men: 54.6% 54.6% 2021 Men: 56.8% 56.8% 2022 Men: 53.2% 53.2% 2023 Men: 44.8% 44.8% 2024 Men: 50.5% 50.5%

Entering Class by Race & Ethnicity

Native Asian Black Hispanic White International
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Native: 1.0% 1.0% 2012 Native: 0.4% 0.4% 2013 Native: 0.4% 0.4% 2014 Native: 0.0% 0.0% 2015 Native: 1.8% 1.8% 2016 Native: 0.8% 0.8% 2017 Native: 0.5% 0.5% 2018 Native: 0.0% 0.0% 2019 Native: 0.4% 0.4% 2020 Native: 1.5% 1.5% 2021 Native: 0.0% 0.0% 2022 Native: 0.0% 0.0% 2023 Native: 1.5% 1.5% 2024 Native: 1.0% 1.0% 2011 Asian: 1.0% 1.0% 2012 Asian: 0.8% 0.8% 2013 Asian: 1.8% 1.8% 2014 Asian: 1.5% 1.5% 2015 Asian: 1.5% 1.5% 2016 Asian: 1.9% 1.9% 2017 Asian: 2.5% 2.5% 2018 Asian: 1.3% 1.3% 2019 Asian: 2.2% 2.2% 2020 Asian: 2.5% 2.5% 2021 Asian: 1.8% 1.8% 2022 Asian: 1.6% 1.6% 2023 Asian: 0.5% 0.5% 2024 Asian: 1.0% 1.0% 2011 Black: 4.5% 4.5% 2012 Black: 3.8% 3.8% 2013 Black: 5.3% 5.3% 2014 Black: 6.6% 6.6% 2015 Black: 5.5% 5.5% 2016 Black: 4.9% 4.9% 2017 Black: 3.0% 3.0% 2018 Black: 1.8% 1.8% 2019 Black: 3.3% 3.3% 2020 Black: 1.0% 1.0% 2021 Black: 2.7% 2.7% 2022 Black: 6.6% 6.6% 2023 Black: 5.9% 5.9% 2024 Black: 10.0% 10.0% 2011 Hispanic: 3.8% 3.8% 2012 Hispanic: 1.9% 1.9% 2013 Hispanic: 3.1% 3.1% 2014 Hispanic: 8.1% 8.1% 2015 Hispanic: 5.9% 5.9% 2016 Hispanic: 6.0% 6.0% 2017 Hispanic: 5.4% 5.4% 2018 Hispanic: 7.9% 7.9% 2019 Hispanic: 8.2% 8.2% 2020 Hispanic: 6.0% 6.0% 2021 Hispanic: 7.2% 7.2% 2022 Hispanic: 6.6% 6.6% 2023 Hispanic: 7.4% 7.4% 2024 Hispanic: 13.9% 13.9% 2011 White: 89.5% 89.5% 2012 White: 90.9% 90.9% 2013 White: 86.3% 86.3% 2014 White: 78.0% 78.0% 2015 White: 79.7% 79.7% 2016 White: 75.5% 75.5% 2017 White: 81.3% 81.3% 2018 White: 76.8% 76.8% 2019 White: 75.5% 75.5% 2020 White: 75.6% 75.6% 2021 White: 73.1% 73.1% 2022 White: 71.0% 71.0% 2023 White: 71.4% 71.4% 2024 White: 63.2% 63.2% 2011 International: 0.0% 0.0% 2012 International: 1.9% 1.9% 2013 International: 1.8% 1.8% 2014 International: 4.8% 4.8% 2015 International: 4.4% 4.4% 2016 International: 2.6% 2.6% 2017 International: 0.5% 0.5% 2018 International: 2.2% 2.2% 2019 International: 3.7% 3.7% 2020 International: 7.0% 7.0% 2021 International: 7.2% 7.2% 2022 International: 2.7% 2.7% 2023 International: 0.5% 0.5% 2024 International: 2.0% 2.0%

Share of the full-time first-time degree-seeking cohort. Groups IPEDS reports separately — two or more races, and race unknown — are left out, so the lines don't sum to 100%.

Enrolled Undergraduates by Race & Ethnicity

Native Asian Black Hispanic White International
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2020 Native: 0.4% 0.4% 2021 Native: 0.8% 0.8% 2022 Native: 1.2% 1.2% 2023 Native: 1.2% 1.2% 2024 Native: 0.7% 0.7% 2025 Native: 0.2% 0.2% 2020 Asian: 0.9% 0.9% 2021 Asian: 0.9% 0.9% 2022 Asian: 0.9% 0.9% 2023 Asian: 0.9% 0.9% 2024 Asian: 0.8% 0.8% 2025 Asian: 1.5% 1.5% 2020 Black: 2.7% 2.7% 2021 Black: 2.8% 2.8% 2022 Black: 2.9% 2.9% 2023 Black: 3.1% 3.1% 2024 Black: 3.2% 3.2% 2025 Black: 3.2% 3.2% 2020 Hispanic: 7.5% 7.5% 2021 Hispanic: 10.0% 10.0% 2022 Hispanic: 11.1% 11.1% 2023 Hispanic: 10.7% 10.7% 2024 Hispanic: 12.4% 12.4% 2025 Hispanic: 11.3% 11.3% 2020 White: 72.0% 72.0% 2021 White: 75.7% 75.7% 2022 White: 77.1% 77.1% 2023 White: 78.8% 78.8% 2024 White: 78.7% 78.7% 2025 White: 78.4% 78.4% 2020 International: 0.7% 0.7% 2021 International: 0.4% 0.4% 2022 International: 0.6% 0.6% 2023 International: 0.6% 0.6% 2024 International: 0.9% 0.9% 2025 International: 0.7% 0.7%

Share of all full-time degree-seeking undergraduates, not just the entering class. Same excluded groups as above.

IPEDS Admissions (2011–2024), Graduation Rates (2011–2024) and 12-month Enrollment (2020–2025) surveys. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line.

Schools & Majors

⇅ Trends Degrees Male/Female Intl Earnings ROI Employment
Buena Vista University 380 33% / 67% 1% $56,083 34 95%
Artificial Intelligence — — — — $82,834 85 —
Computer Systems Analysis 3 — 100% / 0% 0% $78,007 80 —
Computing 2 +1 100% / 0% 0% $79,551 82 —
Information Technology 4 — 50% / 50% 50% $77,833 80 —
Mathematics 3 — 33% / 67% 0% $64,229 57 —
Mathematics — +2 — — $63,761 56 —
Biology 12 +1 58% / 42% 0% $68,156 66 100%
Biomedical Sciences 5 — 20% / 80% 0% $68,156 66 100%
Agribusiness 7 +3 71% / 29% 0% $62,552 53 —
Agriculture — +1 — — $54,833 30 —
Animal Sciences 3 — 33% / 67% 0% $54,606 29 —
Environmental Science — — — — $52,676 24 —
Pre-Veterinary Studies 1 +1 100% / 0% 0% — — —
Soil Science 1 +1 100% / 0% 0% — — —
Exercise Science 11 — 91% / 9% 0% $55,933 33 100%
Pre-Art Therapy — — — — $65,015 59 —
Pre-Physical Therapy Studies 3 +1 67% / 33% 0% $63,817 56 —
Accounting 24 +3 38% / 62% 4% $62,709 53 98%
Business 2 +13 50% / 50% 0% $70,699 70 —
Business Administration 23 +10 30% / 70% 0% $63,158 54 97%
Finance 13 +8 85% / 15% 0% $79,535 82 90%
Marketing 8 +3 38% / 62% 0% $60,084 46 94%
Organizational Leadership 13 — 8% / 92% 0% $63,158 54 97%
Sports Management 6 +5 67% / 33% 0% $55,933 34 100%
Communication Studies — — — — $52,763 24 —
Digital Communication 3 — 33% / 67% 0% $51,857 22 —
English 4 +1 25% / 75% 0% $46,568 11 —
History 4 +2 25% / 75% 0% $51,821 22 —
Human Services 20 +8 5% / 95% 0% $53,598 27 —
Interdisciplinary Studies 3 — 67% / 33% 0% $45,596 10 87%
Liberal Studies 2 — 50% / 50% 0% $67,231 64 100%
Political Science — — — — $61,324 50 —
Psychology 20 +10 15% / 85% 5% $40,828 5 86%
Social Work 7 +2 14% / 86% 0% $51,427 21 —
Strategic Communication 2 — 50% / 50% 0% $59,648 45 —
Agricultural Teacher Education 2 — 0% / 100% 0% — — —
Business Teacher Education 1 — 100% / 0% 0% $57,839 39 95%
Chemistry Teacher Education — — — — $57,839 39 —
Education 8 — 38% / 62% 0% $54,782 30 100%
Elementary Education 93 — 9% / 91% 0% $49,256 16 94%
English Education 5 — 0% / 100% 0% $57,839 39 95%
History Teacher Education 5 — 80% / 20% 0% $57,839 39 95%
Mathematics Teacher Education — — — — $57,839 39 95%
Physical Education 5 — 60% / 40% 0% $57,839 39 95%
Social Science Teacher Education 5 — 60% / 40% 0% — — —
Spanish Language Teacher Education 1 — 0% / 100% 0% — — —
Special Education 7 — 14% / 86% 0% $57,542 38 —
Animation 4 — 50% / 50% 0% — — —
Art Teacher Education — — — — $57,839 39 —
Arts Administration — — — — $40,902 5 —
Graphic Design 3 — 100% / 0% 0% $44,978 9 —
Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator 3 — 0% / 100% 0% $53,101 25 —
Music Education — — — — $57,839 39 95%
Music Management — — — — $44,121 8 —
Music Technology 3 — 100% / 0% 0% $43,794 8 —
Studio Art — +1 — — $42,824 7 —
Criminal Justice 17 +3 41% / 59% 0% $49,725 17 89%
Criminology 6 — 67% / 33% 0% $52,893 25 —
Forensic Science and Technology 3 — 0% / 100% 0% — — —
Pre-Law — — — — $53,464 26 —

Financial

Tuition & Fees $44,723
ROI Percentile 34th

Retention & Graduation

Full-Time Retention 76%
4-Year Graduation Rate 54%
6-Year Graduation Rate 62%
Transfer-Out Rate 0%

Six-Year Graduation Rate

Graduated
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Graduated: 54.9% 54.9% 2012 Graduated: 50.6% 50.6% 2013 Graduated: 52.7% 52.7% 2014 Graduated: 45.8% 45.8% 2015 Graduated: 50.6% 50.6% 2016 Graduated: 52.8% 52.8% 2017 Graduated: 60.1% 60.1% 2018 Graduated: 54.4% 54.4% 2019 Graduated: 60.2% 60.2% 2020 Graduated: 62.2% 62.2% 2021 Graduated: 62.8% 62.8% 2022 Graduated: 57.9% 57.9% 2023 Graduated: 47.3% 47.3% 2024 Graduated: 61.7% 61.7%

Students finishing within 150% of normal time. Each year labels the cohort that entered six years earlier — 2024 tracks the class that started in 2018.

Six-Year Graduation Rate by Gender

Men Women
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Men: 49.0% 49.0% 2012 Men: 48.5% 48.5% 2013 Men: 43.3% 43.3% 2014 Men: 39.7% 39.7% 2015 Men: 45.3% 45.3% 2016 Men: 43.7% 43.7% 2017 Men: 54.9% 54.9% 2018 Men: 48.6% 48.6% 2019 Men: 60.2% 60.2% 2020 Men: 52.9% 52.9% 2021 Men: 55.7% 55.7% 2022 Men: 46.7% 46.7% 2023 Men: 46.3% 46.3% 2024 Men: 54.6% 54.6% 2011 Women: 60.8% 60.8% 2012 Women: 52.6% 52.6% 2013 Women: 60.7% 60.7% 2014 Women: 53.8% 53.8% 2015 Women: 56.9% 56.9% 2016 Women: 61.2% 61.2% 2017 Women: 66.7% 66.7% 2018 Women: 59.7% 59.7% 2019 Women: 60.3% 60.3% 2020 Women: 72.2% 72.2% 2021 Women: 71.3% 71.3% 2022 Women: 73.1% 73.1% 2023 Women: 49.3% 49.3% 2024 Women: 69.9% 69.9%

IPEDS reports the cohort as men and women only.

Six-Year Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity

Black Hispanic White
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Black: 38.5% 38.5% 2012 Black: 40.0% 40.0% 2013 Black: 50.0% 50.0% 2014 Black: 50.0% 50.0% 2015 Black: 20.0% 20.0% 2016 Black: 38.5% 38.5% 2017 Black: 0.0% 0.0% 2018 Black: 100.0% 100.0% 2019 Black: 22.2% 22.2% 2020 Black: 0.0% 0.0% 2021 Black: 50.0% 50.0% 2022 Black: 8.3% 8.3% 2023 Black: 16.7% 16.7% 2024 Black: 25.0% 25.0% 2011 Hispanic: 63.6% 63.6% 2012 Hispanic: 20.0% 20.0% 2013 Hispanic: 71.4% 71.4% 2014 Hispanic: 36.4% 36.4% 2015 Hispanic: 50.0% 50.0% 2016 Hispanic: 18.8% 18.8% 2017 Hispanic: 45.5% 45.5% 2018 Hispanic: 66.7% 66.7% 2019 Hispanic: 50.0% 50.0% 2020 Hispanic: 33.3% 33.3% 2021 Hispanic: 68.8% 68.8% 2022 Hispanic: 66.7% 66.7% 2023 Hispanic: 33.3% 33.3% 2024 Hispanic: 53.6% 53.6% 2011 White: 55.5% 55.5% 2012 White: 53.1% 53.1% 2013 White: 53.8% 53.8% 2014 White: 47.9% 47.9% 2015 White: 53.7% 53.7% 2016 White: 60.0% 60.0% 2017 White: 63.6% 63.6% 2018 White: 50.9% 50.9% 2019 White: 65.0% 65.0% 2020 White: 67.8% 67.8% 2021 White: 69.9% 69.9% 2022 White: 66.2% 66.2% 2023 White: 55.9% 55.9% 2024 White: 73.2% 73.2%

Each group's completers over its own share of the entering cohort. Groups making up less than 2% of everyone this college graduated over the period are left off — their rates swing on a handful of students and read as noise.

IPEDS Graduation Rates survey, 2011–2024. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line.

Earnings by Major Category

Each major category's degree-weighted estimated median 5-year earnings at this college, expressed as a z-score against the national degree-weighted distribution for that category. 0 is the national average. The shaded band between +1.28 and −1.28 marks the central 80% of the national distribution (10th–90th percentile).

Academics

⇅ % Degrees Male/Female Intl Earnings ROI Employment
Education 34.7% 132 17% / 83% 0% $51,188 20 95%
Business & Economics 23.4% 89 40% / 60% 1% $64,835 58 96%
Humanities & Social Sciences 17.1% 65 18% / 82% 2% $49,049 15 88%
Professional 6.8% 26 42% / 58% 0% $50,551 18 89%
Life & Natural Sciences 4.5% 17 47% / 53% 0% $68,156 66 100%
Health Sciences 3.7% 14 86% / 14% 0% $57,622 39 100%
Arts 3.4% 13 62% / 38% 0% $47,291 12 —
Agriculture & Food Science 3.2% 12 67% / 33% 0% $60,168 46 —
Computer Science 2.4% 9 78% / 22% 22% $78,273 81 —
Physical Sciences & Math 0.8% 3 33% / 67% 0% $64,229 57 —

Admissions

Uses Common App Yes
Acceptance Rate 66%
Yield (Unbound) 21%
Regular Decision Jan 1

Acceptance Rates

In-State Out-of-State International
Regular Decision 66% 66% 66%

Acceptance & Yield

Acceptance Yield
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Acceptance: 63.8% 63.8% 2012 Acceptance: 71.2% 71.2% 2013 Acceptance: 69.6% 69.6% 2014 Acceptance: 67.9% 67.9% 2015 Acceptance: 68.1% 68.1% 2016 Acceptance: 63.7% 63.7% 2017 Acceptance: 63.8% 63.8% 2018 Acceptance: 57.1% 57.1% 2019 Acceptance: 57.4% 57.4% 2020 Acceptance: 55.7% 55.7% 2021 Acceptance: 66.0% 66.0% 2022 Acceptance: 77.3% 77.3% 2023 Acceptance: 71.8% 71.8% 2024 Acceptance: 77.6% 77.6% 2011 Yield: 35.5% 35.5% 2012 Yield: 26.3% 26.3% 2013 Yield: 27.4% 27.4% 2014 Yield: 24.1% 24.1% 2015 Yield: 23.9% 23.9% 2016 Yield: 22.9% 22.9% 2017 Yield: 21.5% 21.5% 2018 Yield: 17.1% 17.1% 2019 Yield: 19.1% 19.1% 2020 Yield: 23.0% 23.0% 2021 Yield: 20.5% 20.5% 2022 Yield: 19.6% 19.6% 2023 Yield: 19.6% 19.6% 2024 Yield: 20.7% 20.7%

Applicants, Admitted & Enrolled

Applicants Admitted Enrolled
0 1,250 2,500 3,750 5,000 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Applicants: 896 896 2012 Applicants: 1,223 1,223 2013 Applicants: 1,409 1,409 2014 Applicants: 1,227 1,227 2015 Applicants: 1,372 1,372 2016 Applicants: 1,256 1,256 2017 Applicants: 1,477 1,477 2018 Applicants: 2,055 2,055 2019 Applicants: 2,101 2,101 2020 Applicants: 1,787 1,787 2021 Applicants: 1,749 1,749 2022 Applicants: 1,562 1,562 2023 Applicants: 1,544 1,544 2024 Applicants: 1,389 1,389 2011 Admitted: 572 572 2012 Admitted: 871 871 2013 Admitted: 980 980 2014 Admitted: 833 833 2015 Admitted: 934 934 2016 Admitted: 800 800 2017 Admitted: 943 943 2018 Admitted: 1,174 1,174 2019 Admitted: 1,205 1,205 2020 Admitted: 995 995 2021 Admitted: 1,154 1,154 2022 Admitted: 1,207 1,207 2023 Admitted: 1,108 1,108 2024 Admitted: 1,078 1,078 2011 Enrolled: 203 203 2012 Enrolled: 229 229 2013 Enrolled: 269 269 2014 Enrolled: 201 201 2015 Enrolled: 223 223 2016 Enrolled: 183 183 2017 Enrolled: 203 203 2018 Enrolled: 201 201 2019 Enrolled: 230 230 2020 Enrolled: 229 229 2021 Enrolled: 237 237 2022 Enrolled: 236 236 2023 Enrolled: 217 217 2024 Enrolled: 223 223

IPEDS Admissions survey, 2011–2024. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line.

Standardized Tests

Test Policy optional
Submitted Test Scores 34%
SAT Range 930 – 1130
SAT Math Range 450 – 570
SAT RW Range 470 – 590

SAT Composite

25th 75th
800 900 1000 1100 1200 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2014 25th: 830 830 2016 25th: 840 840 2017 25th: 986 986 2018 25th: 920 920 2019 25th: 930 930 2021 25th: 963 963 2022 25th: 930 930 2014 75th: 995 995 2016 75th: 1000 1000 2017 75th: 1143 1143 2018 75th: 1140 1140 2019 75th: 1110 1110 2021 75th: 1140 1140 2022 75th: 1130 1130

SAT Math

25th 75th
400 450 500 550 600 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2014 25th: 440 440 2016 25th: 440 440 2017 25th: 488 488 2018 25th: 470 470 2019 25th: 470 470 2021 25th: 483 483 2022 25th: 450 450 2014 75th: 515 515 2016 75th: 490 490 2017 75th: 570 570 2018 75th: 560 560 2019 75th: 550 550 2021 75th: 557 557 2022 75th: 560 560

SAT Reading & Writing

25th 75th
300 400 500 600 700 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2014 25th: 390 390 2016 25th: 400 400 2017 25th: 498 498 2018 25th: 450 450 2019 25th: 460 460 2021 25th: 480 480 2022 25th: 480 480 2014 75th: 480 480 2016 75th: 510 510 2017 75th: 573 573 2018 75th: 580 580 2019 75th: 560 560 2021 75th: 583 583 2022 75th: 570 570

Submitting a Test Score

Submitted
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Submitted: 100.0% 100.0% 2012 Submitted: 100.0% 100.0% 2013 Submitted: 100.0% 100.0% 2014 Submitted: 94.0% 94.0% 2015 Submitted: 90.0% 90.0% 2016 Submitted: 95.0% 95.0% 2017 Submitted: 100.0% 100.0% 2018 Submitted: 100.0% 100.0% 2019 Submitted: 100.0% 100.0% 2021 Submitted: 65.0% 65.0% 2022 Submitted: 60.0% 60.0% 2023 Submitted: 39.0% 39.0% 2024 Submitted: 34.0% 34.0%

IPEDS Admissions survey, 2011–2024. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line. Test-score submission adds SAT and ACT submitters, capped at 100% — a student can send both.