- Acceptance rate: 78% for fall 2024
- ACT, middle 50%: 19–26 composite
- Average net price: $18,156 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
Don't know your GPA? Check your GPA
Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Buena Vista University reported: an acceptance rate of 78% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 19–26.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Buena Vista University reviews each application.
Buena Vista University GPA requirements
Buena Vista University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Buena Vista University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Buena Vista University acceptance rate
Buena Vista University admitted 1,078 of 1,389 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 78%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Buena Vista University is a private nonprofit 4-year university in Storm Lake, Iowa, with 1,436 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Buena Vista University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 19 | 22 | 26 |
| ACT English | 17 | 21 | 25 |
| ACT Math | 18 | 21 | 24 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1120 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Buena Vista University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Considered if submitted |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Buena Vista University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $18,156 a year at Buena Vista University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get into Buena Vista University with a 3.0 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Buena Vista University admitted 78% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
Does Buena Vista University require the SAT or ACT?
Check Buena Vista University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Buena Vista University was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 33% sent ACT scores.
What GPA do you need to get into Buena Vista University?
Buena Vista University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
How much does GPA matter at Buena Vista University?
A lot: Buena Vista University requires high school GPA. It considers high school record, high school class rank, college preparatory program, recommendations, essay or personal statement and test scores if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
How many applicants get into Buena Vista University?
Buena Vista University's acceptance rate was 78% for fall 2024: it admitted 1,078 of 1,389 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Buena Vista University hard to get into?
Not for most prepared students: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Buena Vista University admitted 78% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What are Buena Vista University's ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Buena Vista University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had ACT composite 19–26, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
What is the average net price at Buena Vista University?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $18,156 a year at Buena Vista University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Buena Vista University give credit for AP exams?
Yes. Buena Vista University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does Buena Vista University look at legacy status?
No. Buena Vista University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check Buena Vista University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Buena Vista UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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