Overview of Buena Vista University

Buena Vista is a small, private institution that offers degree programs in professional majors and the liberal arts and sciences. Business, education, and psychology are extremely popular majors among undergraduates, as is Buena Vista’s self-designed interdisciplinary major. With small classes and an 8 to 1 student/faculty ratio, students will get lots of personal attention from their professors. Student life at the institution is active with over 80 student organizations. On the athletic front, BVU has impressive offerings for a small school. The Beavers play in the NCAA Division III Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. One in three students plays on one of the school’s 19 intercollegiate teams.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 1,846 (1,619 undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 35% Male/65% Female
• 86% Full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $35,194
• Books: $999
• Room and Board: $9,872
• Other Expenses: $2,267
• Total Cost: $48,332

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 100%
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 99%
  • Loans: 85%
• Mean Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $14,117
  • Loans: $7,714

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Education; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; and Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 60%
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 46%
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 54%

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Football, Baseball, Wrestling, Tennis, Track & Field, Basketball, Golf, Soccer
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Softball, Soccer, Volleyball, Track & Field, Cross Country, Tennis, Golf

Overview of Buena Vista University Admissions

Students applying to Buena Vista will need to take either the SAT or ACT. Buena Vista admits 57% of applicants, making it a largely accessible school. Those admitted generally have good grades (“B” mean or higher) and test scores that are over mean, but remember: schools look at more than test scores and grades, and such things as challenging classes, extracurricular activities, and strong writing skills are all taken into consideration by the Buena Vista admissions staff. Students are urged to visit the campus and can talk to an admissions counselor either in person or through email to set up a tour or ask questions about the admissions process.

Admissions Data

• Buena Vista University Acceptance Rate: 57%
• Test Scores — 25th/75th Percentile
  • SAT Critical Reading: 450/580
  • SAT Math: 470/560
  • SAT Writing: -/-
  • ACT Overall: 19/24
  • ACT English: 18/24
  • ACT Math: 18/25

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Buena Vista University, then it should be easy for you to gain admissions to the schools below. If Buena Vista University is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

University of Texas at El Paso, University of California, Merced, California State University Sacramento, Texas A&M University – Kingsville, California State University Northridge, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, California State University East Bay

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Buena Vista University, then you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

University of Texas at San Antonio, Hampton University, Washington State University, East Carolina University, Texas State University, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will Be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Buena Vista University. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.

University of Arizona, Quinnipiac University, Ohio University, University of Alabama, University of Texas at Arlington, Pace University, University of North Texas

Applying to Buena Vista University

Application Deadline: Rolling

Undergraduate Admissions Website: https://www.bvu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-students

Undergraduate Application Link(s): https://www.bvu.edu/apply

Graduate Admissions Website: https://www.bvu.edu/admissions/graduate-students

Graduate Application Link(s): https://www.bvu.edu/apply