An experience built around you

See What You Will Experience

At Buena Vista University, you won’t come here just to sit in a big lecture hall with hundreds of other students.

You’ll experience hands-on learning in state-of-the-art facilities, and you might even get paid to do it. That’s right, whether you’re into agriculture, marching band, esports, or more, you can find a scholarship that is fit for you.

Students walk in front of chapel
Student builds robot

Artificial Intelligence/Robotics

Use our state-of-the-art robotics and computer architecture lab to build and create web applications, virtual reality simulations, robotics, 3D models, and more. Join the Robotics Club and go head-to-head in robot battle competitions. Here, you can even compete in hacking wars against other schools; we started the nation’s first purely undergraduate attack-and-defend “Capture the Flag” computer security hacking contest.

 

Center for Criminal Justice Studies

Immerse yourself in our simulation room, where you will critically think through real-world situations with more than 800 pre-programmed scenarios. Discover how to evaluate a crime scene through three investigation rooms. Through our partnership, you can intern with our local police department.

Students investigate a simulated crime scene
Students in class on a farm

Rural Reimagined

At the Institute for Agriculture, there is so much more than classrooms and field work. With our Ag Experiment Station just down the road from campus, any student with an interest in ag can join in on the fun. We offer academic programs in agriculture as well as clubs and organizations.

BVU offers competitive scholarships for our Rodeo Team and Livestock Show Team. Ask your admissions counselor how you may qualify.

 

Estelle Siebens Science Center

Take advantage of the Estelle Siebens Science Center. Put classroom concepts into practice in cutting-edge labs and research facilities. The 70,000-square-foot facility contains 18 labs and three research areas, including:

  • Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscope
  • Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer
  • Confocal microscope
  • Spectrophotometers
  • Gene guns
  • Human Cadaver Lab
  • Labs fully equipped to study DNA and RNA
  • Thermal cyclers
  • Optics Lab
  • UV and chemiluminescent imaging equipment
  • Greenhouse with three environmental growth chambers

Students walk on campus

Get real answers to your questions about academic programs and college life at Buena Vista University, directly from our students! Chat with a Student

Digital Media students

Digital Media

The Digital Media program at Buena Vista University prepares students to become professional multimedia storytellers. From the beginning, you will work with digital media tools including audio, video, digital photo, and a variety of software editing and publishing packages. As a DIGI student, you have creative control: pitch your own story ideas, then produce them with state-of-the-art technology in our media studios. 

Lamberti Center for Rural Entrepreneurship

The potential to create a prosperous community lies within the power to cultivate economic growth, and the Lamberti Center for Rural Entrepreneurship strives to serve as the catalyst to revitalize our rural communities. Through the Center, new businesses will launch, jobs will be created, individuals will be empowered to define their future, and the ethical business leaders of tomorrow will be educated.

No matter what major you choose, our minor in entrepreneurship will bring out the innovator in you. You’ll learn firsthand what it takes to start a business, and even have the opportunity to get startup funding for your next big idea.

Downtown Storm Lake
Esports

Esports: Game on, Beavers!

BVU has added esports to its roster of competitive teams and programs. Competing in our new Esports Arena and using a program model based on the National Association of Collegiate Esports, get ready for a dynamic and fun gaming experience!

Compete with your fellow Beavers in our Esports Arena, which houses 12 stations equipped with keyboards and headphones and a lounge. Scholarship opportunities are available for competitors!

Blue Steel is Back

Marching and Pep Bands

After 20 years, BVU’s marching band is back on the field, and our pep bands are firing up the crowds! Bring your musical talents to this proud tradition. We can’t wait to hear you.

Scholarships are available for all bands! Ask your Admissions counselor for more information.

Marching band performs

More Scholarships, Awards & Grants

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Beaver Visit Grant

Make an in-person or virtual visit to BVU to be eligible for $1,000 per year! For high school students who visit from Jan. 1 of their junior year to July 1 of their senior year and college transfer students entering BVU in the Fall Semester.
 

Fine & Media Arts

Awards are available for animation, art, art therapy, graphic design, scientific illustration, digital media, and music production!

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Honors

These programs encourage our best and brightest students to develop academic talents beyond the regular curriculum, with stipends for research and travel.

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Rural Pre-Med

Undergraduate Rural Medicine Education and Development: intern at local hospitals and receive a $3,000 stipend to help defray medical school expenses.

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We can't wait to tell you about the exciting ways to learn and get involved at Buena Vista University!

 
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