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Storm Lake, IA · Decorah, IA
| Buena Vista University | Luther College | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $18,846/yr | $23,097/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $12,901/yr | $12,517/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $25,000 | $27,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $14,838/yr | $12,835/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $18,094/yr | $19,351/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $19,571/yr | $22,204/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $24,967/yr | $29,376/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $265/mo | $286/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $11,330/yr | $11,530/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $15,133/yr | $11,530/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $2,089/yr | $1,040/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,504/yr | $3,015/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $54,222/yr | $65,461/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $41,798/yr | $52,120/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $41,798/yr | $52,120/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 44% | 20% |
| Students taking federal loans | 67% | 65% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 78% | 72% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 1078–1406 |
| SAT average | 1120 | 1218 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 19–26 | 22–29 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 17–25 · Math 18–24 | English 20–29 · Math 20–28 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 1,544 | 2,447 |
| Students accepted | 1,108 | 1,793 |
| Students who enrolled | 217 | 352 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 20% | 20% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 1% | 11% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 38% | 28% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 62% | 71% |
| Freshmen who come back | 76% | 77% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $49,156/yr | $59,850/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $33,767–$64,964 | $42,196–$82,716 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 60% | 74% |
| White students graduating | 73% | 72% |
| Black students graduating | 25% | 40% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 54% | 56% |
| Asian students graduating | 50% | 83% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $43,572/yr | $49,541/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 73% | 81% |
| Graduate on time | 54% | 61% |
| Pell students who graduate | 55% | 58% |
| First-gen students who finish | 47% | 60% |
| Low-income students who finish | 44% | 51% |
| Students who transfer out | No data reported | 13% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $46,276/yr | $52,207/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Education 35% · Business, Management & Marketing 22% · Public Administration & Social Service 7% | Visual & Performing Arts 15% · Health Professions 15% · Business, Management & Marketing 10% |
| Most popular program | Education — 35% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 15% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 22% of degrees | Health Professions — 15% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Public Administration & Social Service — 7% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 5% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 5% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $57,228/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $75,533/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 7.6% | 22% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,366 | 1,379 |
| Students per professor | 13 : 1 | 9 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 454 | No data reported |
| Average professor pay | $6,912/mo | $8,115/mo |
| Full-time professors | 33% | 88% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $40,952 | $92,364 |
| Setting | Town (remote) | Town (remote) |
| Location | Storm Lake, IA | Decorah, IA |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1891 | 1861 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 0.8% | 15% |
| Men | 37% | 48% |
| Women | 63% | 52% |
| White students | 78% | 71% |
| Black students | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 13% | 6.4% |
| Asian students | 1.3% | 1.2% |
| Two or more races | 1.8% | 0% |
| Other / not reported | 2.3% | 2.4% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 35% | 13% |
| Part-time students | 13% | 0.8% |
| Students age 25+ | 30% | 0.5% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $7,966/yr | $17,234/yr |
| Endowment | $159.2M | $204.5M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 770 | 2,156 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $5,266/yr | $5,280/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,630/yr | $5,900/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 19 meals/week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Four-one-four plan | Four-one-four plan |
| Religious affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | Evangelical Lutheran Church |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | Yes |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | No |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | No |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NCAA Division III with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 17 | 19 |
| Student athletes | 396 | 529 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $3.7M | $4.8M |
| Athletics revenue | $3.8M | $5.0M |
| Recruiting spend | $91,219 | $68,582 |
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.