US CollegesGetting in
Buena Vista University admits 78% of those who apply, which makes it open to most applicants. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1120 out of 1600 (midpoints: 532 in reading and writing, 520 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 22 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees for a year | $43,052 |
| Room and meals on campus | $11,400 |
| Books and supplies | $2,018 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $56,872 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $18,855 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off. It is 12% below the median net price of colleges in Iowa on this site ($21,412). International students normally pay the published tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $15,520 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $13,270 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $14,037 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $19,464 |
| Above $110,000 | $25,296 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | IA median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 76% | 73% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 58% | 54% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $51,626 | $57,656 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $23,250 | $21,381 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Iowa and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
48% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 65% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 63% women and 37% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 20 of the 43 colleges in Iowa on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,227.
Other colleges in Iowa of a similar size
- Luther CollegeDecorah, private nonprofit
- William Penn UniversityOskaloosa, private nonprofit
- University of DubuqueDubuque, private nonprofit
- Wartburg CollegeWaverly, private nonprofit
- Grand View UniversityDes Moines, private nonprofit
- Simpson CollegeIndianola, private nonprofit
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Buena Vista University?
Buena Vista University admits 78% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Buena Vista University?
Published tuition and fees are $43,052 a year. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Buena Vista University?
58% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.