Buena Vista University

610 W 4th St, Storm Lake, IA 50588

http://www.bvu.edu/

Buena Vista University Logo
Buena Vista University Logo
[source]

School Description

Provided by Buena Vista University

Buena Vista University is an independent, regionally acclaimed, comprehensive teaching institution dedicated to education for service. Buena Vista aspires to become the nation's leading New American College while retaining its Presbyterian heritage. The University prepares students for leadership and service in an information-driven, global society. The traditional disciplines provide a framework for a curriculum which prepares students for the professions and life-long learning.

Buena Vista University

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Buena Vista University is a private 4-year college located in Storm Lake, Iowa. Founded in 1891 as Buena Vista College, it is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The university's campus is situated on the shores of Storm Lake, a natural lake. BVU's academic programs feature a balance between traditional liberal arts courses and hands-on learning opportunities, such as travel and internships. The university awards its faculty with the $30,000 George Wythe Award for Teaching Excellence, one of the largest faculty awards in the nation. The average student-to-professor ratio is 13:1.

At its inception, the college was housed in the Storm Lake Opera House, where it remained for only a year. Old Main, the college's first building, opened in 1892, and was occupied by faculty and students until it burned down in 1956. Major construction projects in the 1950s and 1960s extended the college, which soon included three dormitories, a library, and a number of classroom buildings.

The college gained accreditation in 1952, and began to grant degrees under the authority of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The first graduate degrees were offered in 1995, at which time the college became Buena Vista University.

The main campus of Buena Vista University serves approximately 1,200 students each academic year, and currently offers classes in 42 majors. 14 additional Centers located throughout Iowa serve about 1,400 students. The university was ranked in the top 20 Midwestern Comprehensive Colleges, as reported by U.S.News and World Report's college rankings. In 2007, BVU was ranked 12th for academic quality in the Midwestern Baccalaureate category.

Events and Traditions

Founders’ Day: This day marks the official beginning of the academic year at BVU. A memorial service during the morning is an opportunity for the University community to pay tribute to BVU's founders and to honor members of the BVU family who have passed away during the preceding year. A convocation in the afternoon welcomes new students and their families to BVU.

< Collapse

Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Midwest
Setting:
Small Town Setting
Type:
Private
Affiliation:
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Size:
Medium (2,000 to 5,000 Undergrad)
Mascot:
Beavers

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
2,768
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
100%
Athletic Programs:
Available
> More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 21,688
Students Receiving Aid:
100%
> More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Selectivity:
Selective
> More Admissions

Degree Programs at Buena Vista University

Bachelor's Level Programs

  • Arts & Humanities

    See more schools with programs in Arts & Humanities
    • English Language and Literature See more schools with programs in English Language and Literature
      • English Language and Literature
        A general program that focuses on the English language, including its history, structure and related communications skills; and the literature and culture of English-speaking peoples.
        See more schools with programs in English Language and Literature
    • Film and Theater See more schools with programs in Film and Theater
      • Theatre Literature, History and Criticism
        A program that focuses on the study of the history, literature, theory, and analysis of written plays, theatrical productions, and theatre methods and organization. Includes instruction in historical method; critical theory; literary analysis; the study of themes and archetypes in dramatic literature; the history of acting, directing, and technical theatre; and the study of specific historical and cultural styles and traditions.
        See more schools with programs in Theatre Literature, History and Criticism
    • Foreign Languages See more schools with programs in Foreign Languages
      • Spanish Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the Spanish language and related dialects. Includes instruction in Spanish philology, Modern Castillan, various Latin American dialects, regional Spanish dialects, and applications in business, science/technology, and other settings.
        See more schools with programs in Spanish Language and Literature
    • History See more schools with programs in History
      • History
        A program that focuses on the general study and interpretation of the past, including the gathering, recording, synthesizing and criticizing of evidence and theories about past events. Includes instruction in historiography; historical research methods; studies of specific periods, issues and cultures; and applications to areas such as historic preservation, public policy, and records administration.
        See more schools with programs in History
    • Music See more schools with programs in Music
      • Music Performance
        A program that generally prepares individuals to master musical instruments and performing art as solo and/or ensemble performers. Includes instruction on one or more specific instruments from various instrumental groupings.
        See more schools with programs in Music Performance
    • Religion/Religious Studies See more schools with programs in Religion/Religious Studies
    • Visual Arts See more schools with programs in Visual Arts
      • Art/Art Studies
        Art and Art Studies is a general, introductory program that focuses on the study and appreciation of the visual arts. Students of these two or four year programs receive instruction in art, photography, and other visual communications media.
        See more schools with programs in Art/Art Studies
      • Arts Management
        Arts Management is a four year program teaching individuals to manage art organizations. Arts Management students study business and financial management; marketing and fundraising; personnel management and labor relations; event promotion and management; public relations and arts advocacy; arts law; and applications to specific arts activities such as galleries, museums, studios, foundations, and community organizations.
        See more schools with programs in Arts Management
  • Business

    See more schools with programs in Business
    • Business/Managerial Economics
      Learn to apply the power of economics principles to the analysis of the organization and operation of business enterprises. Students complete courses in monetary theory, banking and financial systems, theory of competition, pricing theory, wage and salary/incentive theory, analysis of markets, and applications of econometrics and quantitative methods to the study of particular businesses and business problems.
      See more schools with programs in Business/Managerial Economics
    • International Business/Trade/Commerce
      A program that prepares individuals to manage international businesses and/or business operations. Includes instruction in the principles and processes of export sales, trade controls, foreign operations and related problems, monetary issues, international business policy, and applications to doing business in specific countries and markets.
      See more schools with programs in International Business/Trade/Commerce
    • Accounting & Related Services See more schools with programs in Accounting & Related Services
      • Accounting
        An accounting program provides the tools to practice accounting and to perform related business functions. This program includes instruction in accounting principles and theory, financial accounting, managerial accounting, cost accounting, budget control, tax accounting, legal aspects of accounting, auditing, reporting procedures, statement analysis, planning and consulting, business information systems, accounting research methods, professional standards and ethics, and applications to specific for-profit, public, and non-profit organizations.
        See more schools with programs in Accounting
    • Entrepreneurship See more schools with programs in Entrepreneurship
      • Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
        A program that generally prepares individuals to perform development, marketing and management functions associated with owning and operating a business.
        See more schools with programs in Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
    • Financial Services See more schools with programs in Financial Services
      • Banking and Financial Support Services
        Learn the skills needed to provides all types of customer services in banks, insurance agencies, savings and loan companies, and related enterprises. This program helps students realize a banking career by providing instruction in communications and public relations skills, business equipment operation, and technical skills applicable to the methods and operations of specific financial or insurance services.
        See more schools with programs in Banking and Financial Support Services
    • Information Systems See more schools with programs in Information Systems
      • Management Information Systems
        A program that generally prepares individuals to provide and manage data systems and related facilities for processing and retrieving internal business information; select systems and train personnel; and respond to external data requests. Includes instruction in cost and accounting information systems, management control systems, personnel information systems, data storage and security, business systems networking, report preparation, computer facilities and equipment operation and maintenance, operator supervision and training, and management information systems policy and planning.
        See more schools with programs in Management Information Systems
      • Management Information Systems and Services
        See more schools with programs in Management Information Systems and Services
    • Management See more schools with programs in Management
      • Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration
        A program that generally prepares individuals to manage the development of human capital in organizations, and to provide related services to individuals and groups. Includes instruction in personnel and organization policy, human resource dynamics and flows, labor relations, sex roles, civil rights, human resources law and regulations, motivation and compensation systems, work systems, career management, employee testing and assessment, recruitment and selection, managing employee and job training programs, and the management of human resources programs and operations.
        See more schools with programs in Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration
    • Marketing See more schools with programs in Marketing
      • Marketing/Marketing Management
        A program that generally prepares individuals to undertake and manage the process of developing consumer audiences and moving products from producers to consumers. Includes instruction in buyer behavior and dynamics, principle of marketing research, demand analysis, cost-volume and profit relationships, pricing theory, marketing campaign and strategic planning, market segments, advertising methods, sales operations and management, consumer relations, retailing, and applications to specific products and markets.
        See more schools with programs in Marketing/Marketing Management
  • Communication & Media

    See more schools with programs in Communication & Media
    • Commercial & Advertising Art
      A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via illustrations and other forms of digital or printed media. Includes instruction in concept design, layout, paste-up, and techniques such as engraving, etching, silkscreen, lithography, offset, drawing and cartooning, painting, collage, and computer graphics.
      See more schools with programs in Commercial & Advertising Art
    • Communication, Journalism and Related Programs
      See more schools with programs in Communication, Journalism and Related Programs
    • Mass Communication/ Media Studies
      A program that focuses on the analysis and criticism of media institutions and media texts, how people experience and understand media content, and the roles of media in producing and transforming culture. Includes instruction in communications regulation, law, and policy; media history; media aesthetics, interpretation, and criticism; the social and cultural effects of mass media; cultural studies; the economics of media industries; visual and media literacy; and the psychology and behavioral aspects of media messages, interpretation, and utilization.
      See more schools with programs in Mass Communication/ Media Studies
    • Organizational Communication
      A program that focuses on general communication processes and dynamics within organizations. Includes instruction in the development and maintenance of interpersonal group relations within organizations; decision-making and conflict management; the use of symbols to create and maintain organizational images, missions, and values; power and politics within organizations; human interaction with computer technology; and how communications socializes and supports employees and team members.
      See more schools with programs in Organizational Communication
  • Education

    See more schools with programs in Education
    • Teacher Training See more schools with programs in Teacher Training
      • Art Teacher Education
        Art Teach Education programs prepare individuals to teach art and art appreciation programs at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in Art Teacher Education
      • Biology Teacher Education
        This program empowers individuals to share their passion for biology by enabling them to teach biology programs at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in Biology Teacher Education
      • Business Teacher Education
        Learn how to teach to teach vocational business programs at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in Business Teacher Education
      • Chemistry Teacher Education
        Learn to teach the intricacies of chemistry at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in Chemistry Teacher Education
      • Computer Teacher Education
        A program that prepares individuals to teach computer education programs at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in Computer Teacher Education
      • Elementary Education and Teaching
        A program that prepares individuals to teach students in the elementary grades, which may include kindergarten through grade eight, depending on the school system or state regulations. Includes preparation to teach all elementary education subject matter.
        See more schools with programs in Elementary Education and Teaching
      • English/Language Arts Teacher Education
        A program that prepares individuals to teach English grammar, composition and literature programs at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in English/Language Arts Teacher Education
      • History Teacher Education
        A program that prepares individuals to teach history programs at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in History Teacher Education
      • Mathematics Teacher Education
        A program that prepares individuals to teach mathematics programs at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in Mathematics Teacher Education
      • Music Teacher Education
        A program that prepares individuals to teach music and music appreciation programs at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in Music Teacher Education
      • Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
        A program that prepares individuals to teach physical education programs and/or to coach sports at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
      • Psychology Teacher Education
        A program that prepares individuals to teach general psychology at the secondary school level.
        See more schools with programs in Psychology Teacher Education
      • Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
        A program that prepares individuals to teach general science programs, or a combination of the biological and physical science subject matter areas, at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
      • Social Science Teacher Education
        A program that prepares individuals to teach specific social science subjects and programs at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in Social Science Teacher Education
      • Social Studies Teacher Education
        A program that prepares individuals to teach general social studies programs at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in Social Studies Teacher Education
      • Spanish Language Teacher Education
        A program that prepares individuals to teach Spanish language programs at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in Spanish Language Teacher Education
      • Speech Teacher Education
        A program that prepares individuals to teach speech and language arts programs at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in Speech Teacher Education
  • Fitness, Recreation and Leisure Studies

    See more schools with programs in Fitness, Recreation and Leisure Studies
    • Physical Fitness See more schools with programs in Physical Fitness
      • Sport and Fitness Administration/Management
        A program that prepares individuals to apply business, coaching and physical education principles to the organization, administration and management of athletic programs and teams, fitness/rehabilitation facilities and health clubs, sport recreation services, and related services. Includes instruction in program planning and development; business and financial management principles; sales, marketing and recruitment; event promotion, scheduling and management; facilities management; public relations; legal aspects of sports; and applicable health and safety standards.
        See more schools with programs in Sport and Fitness Administration/Management
  • Health & Medical Services

    See more schools with programs in Health & Medical Services
    • Diagnostic & Treatment Technician See more schools with programs in Diagnostic & Treatment Technician
      • Athletic Training/Trainer
        Athletic Training program can be two or four years in length. Individuals in these programs work under the supervision of physicians to prevent and treat sports injuries. This major program includes topics in the identification, evaluation, and treatment of athletic injuries and illnesses; first aid and emergency care; therapeutic exercise; anatomy and physiology; exercise physiology; kinesiology and biomechanics; nutrition; sports psychology; personal and community health; knowledge of various sports and their biomechanical and physiological demands; and applicable professional standards and regulations.
        See more schools with programs in Athletic Training/Trainer
  • Interdisciplinary Studies

    See more schools with programs in Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Biological and Physical Sciences
      This general program is either a synthesis of the biological and physical sciences, or a specialization which draws from the biological and physical sciences.
      See more schools with programs in Biological and Physical Sciences
    • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
      Any instructional program that is derived from two or more distinct programs to provide a cross-cutting focus on a subject concentration that is not subsumed under a single discipline or occupational field.
      See more schools with programs in Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Life Science

    See more schools with programs in Life Science
    • Biology See more schools with programs in Biology
      • Biology/Biological Sciences
        Students in this program study general biology at an introductory level. This major provides students with a broad overview of biology and includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.
        See more schools with programs in Biology/Biological Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics

    See more schools with programs in Mathematics and Statistics
    • General Mathematics
      A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations.
      See more schools with programs in General Mathematics
  • Natural Sciences

    See more schools with programs in Natural Sciences
    • Chemistry See more schools with programs in Chemistry
      • General Chemistry
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.
        See more schools with programs in General Chemistry
    • Physics See more schools with programs in Physics
      • General Physics
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.
        See more schools with programs in General Physics
  • Security and Protective Service Careers

    See more schools with programs in Security and Protective Service Careers
    • Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
      A program that focuses on the criminal justice system, its organizational components and processes, and its legal and public policy contexts. Includes instruction in criminal law and policy, police and correctional systems organization, the administration of justice and the judiciary, and public attitudes regarding criminal justice issues.
      See more schools with programs in Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
  • Social Sciences

    See more schools with programs in Social Sciences
    • International Relations and Affairs See more schools with programs in International Relations and Affairs
      • General Political Science and Government
        A general program that focuses on the systematic study of political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies 0f specific political institutions and processes.
        See more schools with programs in General Political Science and Government
      • Other Political Science and Government
        See more schools with programs in Other Political Science and Government
    • Psychology See more schools with programs in Psychology
      • General Psychology
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and disorders. Includes instruction in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.
        See more schools with programs in General Psychology
      • Other Psychology
        See more schools with programs in Other Psychology
    • Sociology See more schools with programs in Sociology
      • Sociology
        A program that focuses on the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. Includes instruction in social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, social deviance and control, and applications to the study of specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems.
        See more schools with programs in Sociology
  • Social Work

    See more schools with programs in Social Work
    • General Social Work
      A program that prepares individuals for the professional practice of social welfare administration and counseling, and that focus on the study of organized means of providing basic support services for vulnerable individuals and groups. Includes instruction in social welfare policy; case work planning; social counseling and intervention strategies; administrative procedures and regulations; and specific applications in areas such as child welfare and family services, probation, employment services, and disability counseling.
      See more schools with programs in General Social Work
    • Public Administration
      A program that prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state, and federal government; and that focuses on the systematic study of executive organization and management. Includes instruction in the roles, development, and principles of public administration; the management of public policy; executive-legislative relations; public budgetary processes and financial management; administrative law; public personnel management; professional ethics; and research methods.
      See more schools with programs in Public Administration
  • Technology

    See more schools with programs in Technology
    • Information Systems Operation and Management See more schools with programs in Information Systems Operation and Management
      • General Computer Science
        A general program that focuses on computers, computing problems and solutions, and the design of computer systems and user interfaces from a scientific perspective. Includes instruction in the principles of computational science, and computing theory; computer hardware design; computer development and programming; and applications to a variety of end-use situations.
        See more schools with programs in General Computer Science

Master's Level Programs

  • Health & Medical Services

    See more schools with programs in Health & Medical Services
    • Mental & Social Health Services See more schools with programs in Mental & Social Health Services
      • Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
        A program that prepares individuals to apply the theory and principles of guidance and counseling to the provision of support for the personal, social, educational, and vocational development of students, and the organizing of guidance services within elementary, middle and secondary educational institutions. Includes instruction in legal and professional requirements, therapeutic counselor intervention, vocational counseling, and related sociological and psychological foundations.
        See more schools with programs in Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services

Students

General

Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 100%
Part-Time 0%
Men vs. Women
Women 50%
Men 50%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 91%
Other 6%
Hispanic 1%
Asian 1%
African-American 1%

Geography

In State vs. Out-of-State
In-State 75%
Out-of-State 25%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
Iowa 75%
Minnesota 10%
Nebraska 4%
South Dakota 2%
Illinois 2%
Percent of Students International: 0%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 47%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: Yes

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Football (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf)
Basketball (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf)
Baseball (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf)
Track (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf)
Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) Expenses  
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 21,688    
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
$ 3,371 39%  
State and Local Grants:
$ 3,405 56%  
Institutional Grants:
$ 10,914 99%  
Student Loans:
$ 3,566 90%  
Any Aid:
  100%  

Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)

Acceptance Rate: 83% (Selective)
Test Scores  
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 99%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 19, Verbal: 19, Math: 18
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 25, Verbal: 24, Math: 25

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Not Required
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Recommended
High School GPA: Required
High School Rank: Required
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Required
TOEFL: Required
Test Scores: Required

Photos

  • Buena Vista University Logo
    Buena Vista University Logo [source]
Get Admissions Information on Buena Vista University! (It only takes a minute!)
STEP 1 2

Our goal at Campus Explorer is to provide you with the most comprehensive information on colleges and universities. We scour the Web and pull from only the most reliable and accurate sources to give you extensive data on a school, its history and mission, the students, estimated school expenses, academics or degree programs and much more. It is our mission to help you make the best decision for your educational goals and future.

Our resources include:

The schools themselves (Are you a school administrator? Contact us if you would like to update your school's profile.)

And even Campus Explorer Members like you!

For even more up-to-date and accurate materials on admissions, applications and expenses, request information on Buena Vista University now.

Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA 50588
see details