BVU Named a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report
Buena Vista University has been ranked No.3 in the 2021 U.S. News and World Report Best Value Schools Among Regional Universities in the Midwest. The ranking is 29 spots ahead of the closest Iowa institution in this category.
Buena Vista University is ranked No. 3 in the 2021 U.S. News and World Report Best Value Schools Among Regional Universities in the Midwest. The ranking among 70 Midwest Universities is 29 spots ahead of the closest Iowa institution in this category.
“Being one of the Best Value Schools Among Regional Universities in the Midwest—and to top the list in Iowa—is a testament to the work we continue to do in making the quality education at Buena Vista University affordable for our students,” says BVU Interim President Dr. Brian Lenzmeier. “We are grateful to be recognized by U.S. News and World Report for this accomplishment. We’re even more thankful for the commitment our faculty, staff, alumni, benefactors, and friends demonstrate each day in doing all we can to prepare our students for success.”
“Making BVU an affordable option for everyone is central to our mission. We’re so grateful for the hundreds of BVU alumni and benefactors whose scholarship and programming support enable us to make this goal a reality.”
Kevin McIntyre, Vice President for Enrollment Management
The U.S. News & World Report ranking takes several factors into account, including the fact 88 percent of BVU undergraduates receive need-based grant aid, which lowers the average annual cost to attend BVU to $21,178, second lowest total among the top seven schools in the category.
“Seventy-five percent of financial aid awards at Buena Vista University come in the form of grants and scholarships, which do not have to be repaid,” says BVU Vice President for Enrollment Management Kevin McIntyre. “Making BVU an affordable option for everyone is central to our mission. We’re so grateful for the hundreds of BVU alumni and benefactors whose scholarship and programming support enable us to make this goal a reality.”
In 2019, every BVU graduate earned a job or a graduate school placement in the field of their choosing, a 100-percent success rate.
BVU provides approximately $15 million in student financial assistance out of its operating budget each year. Additionally, 100 percent of the full-time students attending BVU in Storm Lake who apply for financial aid receive financial aid.
Among the 156 institutions included in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Regional Universities in the Midwest, BVU was ranked No. 44. This category measures variables such as six-year graduation rates, first- to second-year retention, class size, faculty salaries, the percentage of faculty with the highest degree in their field, student-to-faculty ratio, percentage of full-time faculty, peer reviews, high school class standing, admissions test scores, alumni giving, and more.
BVU was also ranked No. 25 in the listing among Best Regional Universities in the Midwest for Social Mobility, and No. 30 among Best Regional Universities in the Midwest for Veterans.
Prospective students and families have access to many U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, tools for navigating the college application process. “The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal,” notes U.S. News & World Report officials. “With more than 15 measures of academic quality, the web version of U.S. News 2021 Best Colleges will provide data-driven information and guidance to help prospective students and their families understand their higher education options.”