Buena Vista University

https://www.bvu.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$41,798

4% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$19,704

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

77.6%

1,389 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

1,890

65.7% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

61.7%

124 Graduates

About

Buena Vista University is a higher education institution located in Buena Vista County, IA. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Buena Vista University were Elementary Education & Teaching (92 degrees awarded), General Human Services (58 degrees), and General Business Administration & Management (51 degrees).

In 2024, 788 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Buena Vista University. 75.1% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 24.9% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (650 degrees), 8.78 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (74 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Buena Vista University is $41,798, which is $17,798 more than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,000).

Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Buena Vista University is $41,798, which is $17,798 more than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,000).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $19,704.

In 2024, 88% of undergraduate students attending Buena Vista University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 67% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$41,798

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Buena Vista University was $41,798. The cost of tuition at Buena Vista University is $17,798 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,000).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Buena Vista University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$19,704

2024 Value

8.53%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Buena Vista University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $19,704. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Buena Vista University grew by 8.53%.

This chart compares the average net price of Buena Vista University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$9,905

Room and Board

$1,132

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Buena Vista University was of $9,905 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 5.29% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,132. The cost of books and supplies increased by 0.533% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Buena Vista University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

88%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

67%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

88% of undergraduate students at Buena Vista University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a decline of 1.12% with respect to 2023, when 89% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Buena Vista University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

Buena Vista University received 1,389 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 10% annual growth. Out of those 1,389 applicants, 1,078 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 77.6% acceptance rate.

There were 1,890 students enrolled at Buena Vista University in 2024. 1% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Buena Vista University has an overall enrollment yield of 20.7%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

77.6%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

1,078

Accepted Out of 1,389

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Buena Vista University was 77.6% (1,078 admissions from 1,389 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 71.8%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants declined by 10%, while admissions declined by 2.71%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Buena Vista University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

Submission Percentage (2024)

Scores Submitted (2024)

1% of enrolled first-time students at Buena Vista University in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Buena Vista University had a total enrollment of 1,890 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Buena Vista University is 1,242 students and the part-time enrollment is 648. This means that 65.7% of students enrolled at Buena Vista University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Buena Vista University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 80.3% White, 10.2% Hispanic or Latino, 2.43% Black or African American, 1.8% Two or More Races, 1.59% Asian, 0.317% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0529% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Buena Vista University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (48.7%), followed by White Male (29%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (8.02%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (75%), followed by White Male (12.5%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (5%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

65.7%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Buena Vista University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 1,890 students. The full-time enrollment at Buena Vista University is 1,242 and the part-time enrollment is 648. This means that 65.7% of students enrolled at Buena Vista University are enrolled full-time compared with 67.1% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Buena Vista University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

76%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Buena Vista University was 76%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (73%), Buena Vista University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Buena Vista University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
1,518 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
193 enrolled students
Black or African American
46 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Buena Vista University is 80.3% White, 10.2% Hispanic or Latino, 2.43% Black or African American, 1.8% Two or More Races, 1.59% Asian, 0.317% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0529% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 47.4% White, 18.8% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.6% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 51 students (2.7%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 396 more women than men received degrees from Buena Vista University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Buena Vista University is white (650 degrees awarded). There were 8.78 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (74 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Buena Vista University is Elementary Education & Teaching (92 degrees awarded), followed by General Human Services (58 degrees) and General Business Administration & Management (51 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Buena Vista University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Education (362 degrees awarded), Public Administration and Social Service (66 degrees), and Agriculture (19 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Buena Vista University are Elementary & middle school teachers (1,733,558 people), Accountants & auditors (1,061,718 people), Other managers (920,586 people), Financial managers (569,910 people), and Secondary school teachers (566,531 people).

The most specialized majors at Buena Vista University in 2024 are Education (362 degrees awarded), Public Administration and Social Service (66 degrees), Agriculture (19 degrees), Psychology (75 degrees), and Business (174 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Buena Vista University are Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Surgeons, Geoscientists and hydrologists, except geographers, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at Buena Vista University are Education (362 degrees awarded), Public Administration and Social Service (66 degrees), Agriculture (19 degrees), Psychology (75 degrees), and Business (174 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Buena Vista University are Elementary & secondary schools (3,510,550 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (737,734 people), Computer Systems Design (660,645 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (658,487 people), and Banking & related activities (506,825 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Buena Vista University.

Most Common (2024)

Elementary Education & Teaching
92 degrees awarded
General Human Services
58 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
51 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Buena Vista University was Elementary Education & Teaching with 92 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Buena Vista University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

196

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

592

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 196 degrees were awarded to men at Buena Vista University, which is 0.331 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (592).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Buena Vista University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 22 degrees were awarded to men at Buena Vista University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.759 times less than the 29 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 85 degrees were awarded to men at Buena Vista University in Elementary Education & Teaching, which is 12.1 times more than the 7 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

48%

100% Completion Time

58%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 48% of students graduating from Buena Vista University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 58% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 58% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
650 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
74 degrees awarded
Black or African American
22 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Buena Vista University is white (650 degrees awarded). There were 8.78 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (74 degrees).

2.16% of degree recipients (17 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Female
698 degrees awarded
White Female
621 degrees awarded
White Female
592 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Buena Vista University is white female (698 degrees awarded). There were 1.12 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (621 degrees).

Operations

Buena Vista University has an endowment valued at nearly $159M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 13M (8.17%) compared to the 9.2% average return (4.22M on 45.9M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2024, Buena Vista University had a total salary expenditure of 43.4M. Buena Vista University employs 28 Assistant professors, 13 Professors and 12 Associate professors. Most academics at Buena Vista University are Female Assistant professor (15), Male Assistant professor (13), and Female Associate professor (7).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Buena Vista University are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 54 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 47 employees, and Service with 35 employees.

Endowment

$159M

2024 Endowment

5.85%

growth from 2023

Buena Vista University has an endowment valued at about $159M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Buena Vista University grew 5.85% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $113M higher than than the median endowment of Masters Colleges and Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Buena Vista University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$16.8M

2024 Salaries

1.7%

decline from 2023

In 2024, Buena Vista University paid a median of $16.8M in salaries, which represents 38.8% of their overall expenditure ($43.4M) and a 1.7% decline from the previous year. This is compared to a 5.13% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 2.63% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$4.23M

Instructional Salaries

Number of Employees

In 2024, Buena Vista University paid a total of $4.23M to 60 employees working as instructors, which represents 25.1% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $965k (3.13%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Buena Vista University were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 54 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 47 employees, and Service with 35 employees.

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