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Compare Buena Vista University vs Grand View University

Storm Lake, IA · Des Moines, IA

Buena Vista UniversityGrand View University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$18,846/yr$21,774/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$12,901/yr$18,512/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$25,000$22,500
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$14,838/yr$18,773/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$18,094/yr$20,254/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$19,571/yr$23,414/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$24,967/yr$24,601/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$265/mo$239/mo
Room & board (on campus)$11,330/yr$13,912/yr
Room & board (off campus)$15,133/yr$13,822/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$2,089/yr$1,296/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$2,504/yr$4,470/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$54,222/yr$48,522/yr
Tuition (in-state)$41,798/yr$34,762/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$41,798/yr$34,762/yr
Students with Pell Grants44%45%
Students taking federal loans67%72%
Getting in
Students who get accepted78%99%
SAT average1120No data reported
ACT range (middle 50%)19–26No data reported
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 17–25 · Math 18–24No data reported
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received1,5441,665
Students accepted1,1081,638
Students who enrolled217340
Accepted students who enroll20%21%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores1%No data reported
Enrolled who sent ACT scores38%No data reported
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
EssayOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Recommendation lettersOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
College-prep programOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNot considered
Work experienceNot consideredNot considered
English proficiency testOptional (considered if sent)Required
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredNot considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate62%54%
Freshmen who come back76%70%
Typical earnings 10 years in$49,156/yr$52,824/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$33,767–$64,964$37,007–$72,589
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)60%61%
White students graduating73%60%
Black students graduating25%29%
Hispanic students graduating54%48%
Asian students graduating50%40%
Typical earnings 6 years in$43,572/yr$47,582/yr
Earn more than a HS grad73%77%
Graduate on time54%45%
Pell students who graduate55%37%
First-gen students who finish47%56%
Low-income students who finish44%59%
Students who transfer outNo data reported21%
Typical earnings 8 years in$46,276/yr$51,170/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsEducation 35% · Business, Management & Marketing 22% · Public Administration & Social Service 7%Business, Management & Marketing 25% · Health Professions 13% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 10%
Most popular programEducation — 35% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 25% of degrees
2nd most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 22% of degreesHealth Professions — 13% of degrees
3rd most popular programPublic Administration & Social Service — 7% of degreesParks, Recreation & Fitness — 10% of degrees
4th most popular programPsychology — 5% of degreesPublic Administration & Social Service — 9% of degrees
5th most popular programHomeland Security & Protective Services — 5% of degreesEducation — 9% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Business Administration, Management and Operations — $57,228/yrRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $64,042/yr
Degrees in STEM7.6%6.4%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment1,3661,486
Students per professor13 : 112 : 1
Graduate students454356
Average professor pay$6,912/mo$7,384/mo
Full-time professors33%41%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byHigher Learning CommissionHigher Learning Commission
Median family income$40,952$50,048
SettingTown (remote)City (midsize)
LocationStorm Lake, IADes Moines, IA
RegionPlainsPlains
Founded18911896
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationMaster's Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsMaster's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students0.8%3.3%
Men37%45%
Women63%55%
White students78%54%
Black students3.2%9.6%
Hispanic or Latino students13%13%
Asian students1.3%4.2%
Two or more races1.8%4.7%
Other / not reported2.3%12%
Special typeReligiously affiliatedReligiously affiliated
First-generation students35%36%
Part-time students13%7.2%
Students age 25+30%13%
Spent on teaching per student$7,966/yr$7,383/yr
Endowment$159.2M$37.5M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing770894
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$5,266/yr$5,372/yr
Meal plan charge$5,630/yr$5,570/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per week19 meals/weekVaries by week
Academic calendarFour-one-four planSemester
Religious affiliationPresbyterian Church (USA)Evangelical Lutheran Church
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesNo
ROTCYes — ArmyYes — Army, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceNoYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesNoYes
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationNoYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division III with footballNAIA Division I
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1725
Student athletes396851
Athletic scholarships$0$6.6M
Athletics budget$3.7M$12.4M
Athletics revenue$3.8M$12.4M
Recruiting spend$91,219$35,984

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.