Undergraduate Students

Whether you’re earning your degree on our Storm Lake Campus or through one of our locations in Iowa, or online — you will build something amazing with a BVU undergraduate degree.

Several different groups of students stand outside on the lawn of a campus building

Request Information Apply Financial Aid

Take Me To:

What Type of Undergraduate Student Are You?

On Campus

You will earn your degree on our main campus in Storm Lake, Iowa.

On Site

You will earn your degree at a partner community college in Iowa.

Online

You will earn your degree fully online and through virtual classes.

On Campus
On Site & Online

On Campus

How to Apply to BVU

Fill out the online application
Send your high school transcript to BVU
Submit your official SAT or ACT score (optional for international applicants)
Send official college transcripts from every institution you have attended to BVU
Schedule a visit! (This step can be done at any point in the process)

see dates

Admission Requirements
At BVU, we care about more than just how great of a test-taker you are. Beavers are defined by their strength and drive to better what’s around them, and we look for students who share this vision and motivation. See below for further specifics about our selection criteria.
Your Interests – Tell us about your high school experience. Did you have a job, volunteer around your hometown, or get involved in other activities that were important to you? All of the things that make you who you are, are important to us, too. So, tell us more!
GPA – students earning a 3.0 cumulative GPA are given preference in admission; however, this is not a minimum requirement.
ACT Score – students earning a 20 or above ACT score are given preference in admission; however, this is not a minimum requirement.

Visit Campus

BVU is more than a university. As a student, BVU is your community and your home away from home. To truly experience what life is like here, you have to see for yourself.

High school seniors and college transfer students: receive a $1,000 per year award when you make an official BVU visit to our Storm Lake campus before March 31, 2020.

Visit and together we can build a future worthy of your dreams.

Schedule a Visit

Two students walk together through to atrium of a campus building. Other students pass back and forth in the background.

See Programs and MajorsON CAMPUS, ON SITE, ONLINE

Two students wearing graduation roles and hats hug

Affordable College

Ranked #4 Best Value School among regional universities in the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report 2020, BVU is committed to keeping college tuition affordable — that’s why 100% of our students who apply for financial aid receive it. So whatever you love, we’ll give you all the support you need to pursue it.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Athletics

Become a Beaver. Get an instant family by joining a sport at BVU. Nearly half of our students are involved in athletics — and it’s for good reason. There’s something to say for bonding with teammates on the field and on road trips near and far. Interested? Our coaches want to talk to YOU.

Recruitment

Two football teams face off on opposite sides of a yard line ready to start a play on foggy, misty evening.

Apply

No essay or application fee, and we accept on a rolling basis. Know if you’re accepted two weeks later. Fill out a housing application if you plan to live on campus.

APPLY

Deposit

When you know, you know. $200 will secure your spot at BVU so you can begin planning all that you want to participate in and accomplish at college.

Deposit

Virtual Tour

Explore our picturesque 60-acre campus, located on the shores of Storm Lake in northwest Iowa. Discover the value and lifelong benefits of our liberal arts institution.

Tour

Housing Application

We want to match you up with the best fit possible, so be honest! Just how late do you like to study, and which residence hall is your first choice?

Housing App

On Site & Online

A woman is seated comfortably on a shag rug in her living room in front of her sofa. Her laptop and several pages of notes are spread on the floor in front of her - she studies them intently. She is holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a pen in the other.

How to Apply to BVU (On Site and Online Students)

Although personal interviews are not required, applicants are urged to request information and speak with a BVU advisor.
Request that official transcript(s) from each college or university previously attended be sent to BVU. Without official transcripts and records, a student will not be allowed to register beyond the initial semester.
Complete the On Site/Online Application. Apply >
If you will be applying for financial assistance including student loans, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov.
Students who have previously earned a B.A. or B.S. degree may be eligible to earn a second bachelor's degree from Buena Vista University.

Admission Requirements
At BVU, we care about more than just how great of a test-taker you are. Beavers are defined by their strength and drive to better what's around them, and we look for students who share this vision and motivation. See below for further specifics about our selection criteria.
Your Interests - Tell us about your high school experience. Did you have a job, volunteer around your hometown, or get involved in other activities that were important to you? All of the things that make you who you are, are important to us, too. So, tell us more!
GPA - students earning a 3.0 cumulative GPA are given preference in admission; however, this is not a minimum requirement.

Earn Your Degree Your Way

BVU's location and online learning options allow you to earn your degree without uprooting your life. You will earn the same high-quality, personalized education whether you study at one of our locations or completely online. These options empower students of all ages and life situations to earn a degree, advance their career, and pursue their dreams — all with the benefits of the supportive BVU community.

Learn On Site Learn Online

A female student is sitting on a couch at night time in a dark room. Her face is illuminated by the open laptop screen on her lap, she is reading notes from a notebook.

See Programs and MajorsONLINE, On Site

Affordable College

We're committed to making high quality private education affordable for you. More than $14 million in institutional gift aid was awarded this year to our students and 75 percent of our financial aid is made up of grants and scholarships.

Tuition and Financial Aid