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Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA 1,366 Undergrads 61.7% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$54,222
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,846
After Aid
Median Earnings
$50,318
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$18,846
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$50,318Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$49,156Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate61.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age27.0
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients45.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.1%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
77.6%
SAT Avg
1,120
SAT Reading
25th: -53275th: -
SAT Math
25th: -52075th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 192275th: 26
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$456k
-$11k
-$28k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$388k
-$78k
-$96k
Full Cost$54k/yr
+$261k
-$206k
-$223k
ROI Efficiency Metrics⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$19k/yr
Never
-141%
Full Cost$54k/yr
Never
-114%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-116%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-92%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$23,270
Earnings (4yr)
$63,454
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,240
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,918
Earnings (5yr)
$63,633
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,440
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
BachCIP: 0999
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Natl Median: $55,384
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Systems Analysis
BachCIP: 1105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$53,736
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$22,189
Earnings (4yr)
$50,997
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Education, Other
BachCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,113
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
BachCIP: 5207
Median Debt
$20,834
Earnings (4yr)
$58,540
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$20,700
Earnings (4yr)
$63,950
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graphic Communications
BachCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$21,833
Earnings (4yr)
$56,329
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,832
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,931
Earnings (4yr)
$55,330
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$23,826
Earnings (4yr)
$45,185
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3899
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,083
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,755
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$273k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,281
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,573
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$28,900
Earnings (4yr)
$48,048
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$29,291
Earnings (4yr)
$61,710
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$60,404
Earnings (4yr)
$62,389
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,691
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$31,671
Earnings (4yr)
$58,059
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
MastCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.