Cost & Aid
Scholarships & Calculator
Your achievements deserve to be recognized. BVU offers generous scholarships and grants to help make your education more affordable, with opportunities available for first-year students, transfer students, and those with unique talents and experiences.
Merit Scholarships
Rewarding Achievement
Incoming first-year students are automatically considered for academic scholarships based on their cumulative high school GPA—no separate scholarship application required. *Students who live off campus will have their scholarship reduced by $5,000.
Scholarships Beyond Academics
BVU offers additional scholarship opportunities to recognize your experiences, talents, and goals.
First-Year Scholarships
Build-Up-Iowa Scholarship
- Criteria: To be eligible, you must be an Iowa resident enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student on our Storm Lake campus. Priority Deadline: Must be admitted by April 1.
- Amount: $2,000 per year; renewable up to four years with Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to renew each year.
Iowa Access Grant
- Criteria: To be eligible, a student must:
- Be an Iowa resident enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student on our Storm Lake campus.
- Student must reside on campus.
- Have a 2.9 GPA or higher from high school.
- Receive Federal Pell Grant and Iowa Tuition Grant (FAFSA required).
- Priority Deadline: Must be admitted by April 1.
- Amount: For qualifying students, BVU commits to ensuring 100 percent of a student's tuition is covered by federal, state, and institutional grant aid. Iowa Access Grant is a last-dollar grant program offered after all other grant aid is awarded, including outside scholarships. It is renewable for up to four years with Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to renew each year.
Out-of-State Grant
Available to any U.S. resident who resides in a state outside of Iowa
$2,000 per year.
Beaver Visit Grant
- Criteria: To be eligible, you must be a high school student who visits BVU from Jan. 1 of their junior year to July 1 of their senior year or a college transfer student entering BVU
- Amount: $1,000 per year
Legacy Scholarship
- Award for any student beginning enrollment at Buena Vista University who has a parent or grandparent with a degree from BVU
- Amount: $1,000 per year
Talent & Co-Curricular Awards
Students may qualify for scholarships in areas such as fine arts, music, esports, dance, archery, livestock showing, and other co-curricular activities. Students are only eligible to receive one co-curricular scholarship.
Club Sports (Co-Curricular Scholarship)
- Available to first-year Storm Lake campus students
- Awarded to students based on talent and individuals who are dedicated to continued improvement in their respective areas of activity
- Scholarships awarded in dance, livestock showing, archery, and esports
Award amounts vary - Ask your admissions counselor how you may qualify
Fine & Media Arts Awards (Co-Curricular Scholarship)
- Awards available for animation, art, art therapy, graphic design, scientific illustration, digital media, instrumental music, music production, or vocal music; both those majoring in these disciplines or participating in the associated co-curricular program including Marching Band, Concert Band, Concert Choir, Vista Chamber Singers, and Jazz Band.
- Students majoring in one of the areas listed above must compete in an audition or portfolio review before March 1. Students participating only must audition or provide a portfolio for review by Feb. 28.
- Award amounts vary.
What Will BVU Cost You?
Scholarships can make a big difference. Use BVU's Net Price Calculator to estimate your college costs after scholarships and financial aid.
Take the Next Step
You're Future at BVU Starts Here
Our Admissions and Financial Aid teams are here to help you explore scholarships, understand your financial aid options, and take the next step toward BVU.