BVU Named a Best Value School by U.S. News and World Report

Buena Vista University has risen to the seventh best value school among Midwest regional colleges in U.S. News & World Report's 2019 Best Colleges rankings, soaring eight spots from last year.

Buena Vista University has risen to the seventh best value school among Midwest regional colleges in U.S. News & World Report's 2019 Best Colleges rankings, soaring eight spots from last year.

The best value category takes into account a college's academic quality based on its U.S. News Best Colleges 2019 ranking and the net cost of attendance for a 2017-18 student who received the average level of need-based financial aid. Best Value Schools rankings lists colleges that offer the best value for students receiving need-based financial aid. “We do our best to make BVU an affordable option to everyone, so 100 percent of full-time Storm Lake campus students who applied for financial assistance last year received it,” says Nick Boone, executive director of admissions. “An average 75 percent of that aid is free money, meaning scholarships and grants.”

"Finding ourselves at the top of the list this year is a testament to the great things happening in Storm Lake, online, and at our sixteen locations across the state."

President Joshua D. Merchant

BVU also jumped to second for the Best Colleges for Veterans among regional colleges in the Midwest. BVU does not limit the number of students who qualify for Yellow Ribbon Program, which covers 100 percent of tuition. There are currently 28 BVU students utilizing the Post 9/11 GI Bill®(Chapter 33) benefits, and there are 12 BVU students using Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31) which provides services to eligible Servicemembers and Veterans with service-connected disabilities. Three BVU students are using the Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty program (Chapter 30), providing education benefits to Veterans and Servicemembers who have at least two years of active duty. Seven BVU students are using Survivors and Dependents Assistance (Chapter 35). BVU is also a recipient of the 2018-19 Military Friendly® Schools Designation.

BVU is home to a growing Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program as well. BVU Captain Daniel Manor, assistant professor of military science and Signal Corps officer in the active-duty U.S. Army says, “Since the ROTC program was established in 2009, the University has commissioned 22 officers into the Iowa Army National Guard and Active Duty Army. The program is on track to double that number over the next four years.” There are currently 24 students enrolled in BVU’s ROTC program with 15 of them receiving full tuition scholarships.

Additionally, BVU was ranked 18th overall in the Regional Colleges Midwest rankings category. Ranking 18th is an increase of 6 in comparison to last year’s results.

“BVU is proud to be ranked amongst some of the best universities in the country when it comes to receiving a valuable education,” says President Joshua D. Merchant. “Finding ourselves at the top of the list this year is a testament to the great things happening in Storm Lake, online, and at our sixteen locations across the state. A few examples include our new Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Resource Management, reviving a marching and pep band program, welcoming our first cohorts of Education for Service scholars and S-STEM scholars, and the undergoing renovation of the Harold Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum.”

Prospective students and families have access to many U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, which helps them navigate the college application process. The U.S. News website states, "The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal. Only schools ranked in or near the top half of their categories are included because U.S. News considers the most significant values to be among colleges that are above average academically."

  • Best Value School Regional Colleges Midwest
  • Regional Colleges Midwest
  • Best Colleges for Veterans  

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