Students at Buena Vista University benefit from earnings that exceed expectations, with graduates earning about $2,400 more than similar students at comparable institutions.
The university combines this financial advantage with strong access for first-generation and Pell-eligible students in a supportive small college environment.
Buena Vista University is a small private nonprofit college in Storm Lake, Iowa, serving about 1,200 students with a focus on personalized education and community engagement. The university provides broad access to higher education, with 43% of students receiving Pell Grants and 35% being first-generation college students, reflecting its commitment to serving diverse backgrounds. While graduation rates show room for improvement, with 47% of students completing their degree within six years, the institution offers a supportive environment where students can develop close relationships with faculty and peers.
Buena Vista's financial outcomes are mixed but show some positive trends. Graduates earn a median of $49,156 ten years after enrollment, which places the university around the national average for similar institutions. More encouraging is that graduates earn about $2,400 more than expected compared with students at peer institutions, suggesting the university adds meaningful value to student outcomes. The university's mobility quadrant classification as "Under-Resourced Institutions" reflects both its commitment to access and the challenges of supporting students from diverse economic backgrounds through to strong outcomes.
As a small private college, Buena Vista offers the intimate learning environment and personalized attention that many students seek, particularly those who thrive in close-knit academic communities. The university's location in rural Iowa provides a focused academic setting, though students should consider how this geographic context aligns with their career goals and post-graduation plans.
Buena Vista University's program portfolio reflects its focus on practical, career-oriented education with particular strength in business and education fields. Accounting Technology stands out as the highest-earning program, with 36 graduates achieving median earnings of $47,494, providing solid entry into business and finance careers. This program demonstrates the university's ability to prepare students for in-demand professional roles that offer stable career prospects.
Adult and Continuing Education represents the university's largest aggregate return program, with 58 graduates earning around $37,819, reflecting Buena Vista's historical strength in preparing educators and training professionals. Multi-Interdisciplinary Studies enrolls the most students with 72 graduates, though earnings are more modest at $30,047, suggesting this program serves students seeking broad liberal arts preparation or those exploring multiple career paths.
The variation in outcomes across programs highlights both opportunities and challenges at Buena Vista. While business-focused programs like Accounting Technology provide clear pathways to solid earnings, liberal arts programs like Psychology, despite enrolling substantial numbers of students, show more modest financial returns with graduates earning around $26,160. This pattern suggests that students in these fields may need to pursue additional training or graduate education to maximize their career potential, making program selection and career planning particularly important at this institution.
Graduates of Buena Vista University achieve moderate but steady financial outcomes, with median earnings of $49,156 ten years after enrollment. What's particularly encouraging is that graduates earn about $2,400 more than expected compared with students at similar institutions, indicating that the university provides meaningful value beyond what the raw earnings numbers might suggest. This earnings advantage, while modest, demonstrates that Buena Vista's educational approach and support systems help students achieve better financial outcomes than they might at comparable colleges.
Program outcomes vary significantly across fields of study. The university's strongest financial returns come from Accounting Technology, where the 36 graduates earn a median of $47,494 early in their careers, providing solid entry into business and finance roles. Adult and Continuing Education represents the highest aggregate return program, with 58 graduates earning around $37,819, reflecting the university's strength in education-focused fields. Multi-Interdisciplinary Studies is the largest program with 72 graduates earning about $30,047, while Psychology graduates, despite representing a substantial cohort of 71 students, see more modest early earnings around $26,160.
The variation in outcomes across programs highlights the importance of major selection at Buena Vista. Students in business-oriented and education fields tend to see stronger financial returns, while those in liberal arts and social sciences may need to consider graduate school or additional training to maximize their earning potential. The university's small size means that career services and alumni networks may be more limited than at larger institutions, making program choice and career planning particularly important for long-term financial success.
Buena Vista University offers relatively affordable private college pricing, particularly for low- and middle-income families. Low-income students pay an average net price of $14,583 annually, which is competitive for a private institution and reflects substantial financial aid support. Middle-income families see costs around $16,286 per year, while higher-income families pay about $22,791 annually. These price points make Buena Vista accessible to families across income levels, though the costs are still higher than typical public university options.
The university's financial aid approach appears designed to make private education attainable for students from diverse economic backgrounds. The relatively modest increase in net price across income bands suggests that the institution provides meaningful aid to families who need it most, while still maintaining sustainable pricing for those who can afford to pay more. This pricing structure aligns with Buena Vista's mission of serving first-generation and Pell-eligible students, making private college education accessible to families who might otherwise consider it out of reach.
Debt levels at Buena Vista are manageable for most graduates, with typical federal student loan debt around $25,000 and Parent PLUS borrowing averaging $11,500. Given the university's median graduate earnings of about $49,156, most borrowers should be able to handle standard repayment without significant financial strain. The university maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, indicating that graduates generally manage their debt obligations successfully, though this may also reflect the relatively small size of the borrowing population.
Buena Vista University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
