Buena Vista University

Location and Contact Information

The campus is in a self-contained town.

Overview

Buena Vista University, also known as BVU, is located in Storm Lake, Iowa, United States. It was founded in 1891 as Buena Vista College. BVU was granted university status in 1995 and settled on its current name. The campus spreads across an area of about 60 acres. The university also offers 14 education centers located throughout Iowa. BVU offers an array of degrees and certificate programs through the following schools:

• Harold Walter Siebens School of Business
• School of Communication & Art
• School of Education & Exercise Science
• School of Science
• School of Social Science, Philosophy & Religion

The various student organizations of BVU play a significant role in the overall development of the students. Some of these are the African American Student Union, Alpha Psi Omega, Criminal Justice Club, Voices of Praise/Good View Music Association, Buena Vista Business Club, Danse Du Coeur, Multicultural Club, and Student Organization of Latinos.

Highlights (vs. Other Schools)

• Presbyterian Church (USA) religious affiliation.
• Many students concentrating in therapy and counseling, business and management, education and teaching, and security and law enforcement.
• Large number of programs of study offered.
• Number of dorm rooms for students.
• High female/male ratio.
• High percentage of students are from out-of-state.
• Superior share of faculty on tenure track.

School characteristics:

• The school is private, not-for-profit.
• Academic calender: 4-1-4 plan.
• Carnegie classification: Baccalaureate Colleges, General.

Features of note:

• The school offers a faculty tenure system.
• There are one or more libraries on-campus.
• Campus housing is available.
• Students have meal (board) plans.
• Students may study abroad.
• Distance learning is available.
• Part-time classes are available.
• ROTC.

Similar Schools

Based on proprietary BrainTrack computer comparisons against all other US colleges, these schools appear to be most similar to Buena Vista:

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Degrees Awarded (in 2009-2010)

Faculty

Tenure (2009-2010):

Students

Student enrollment was 2,478 in 2009-2010 (2,699 full-time equivalent).

About 55% of the freshmen class in 2009-2010 was male and women were 45% of the class.

Undergrads are 95% of enrolled students and graduate students are 5%.

Students under 25 years old represent 57% of the student body. About 11% of the school is at least 40 years of age.

Admissions Summary (2009-2010)

SAT Test Scores:

Room and Board

Buena Vista provides on-campus housing for 1,143 of its 2,699 (full-time) students (as of 2009-2010). The school requires freshmen to live on campus.

Students may purchase a meal plan which includes 19 meals weekly.

Athletics

School sports include football, basketball, baseball, and track. The school is in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for major sports.

Graduate School Focus

Buena Vista offers graduate (post-Bachelor) studies. The highest degree offered is the Master.

The school's Graduate School Carnegie Classification is Single Postbaccalaureate (Education).

Programs of Study

(Number of degrees in 2009-2010 in parentheses)

ART STUDIES (2 awarded)

• Art/Art Studies
• Arts Management

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (188 awarded)

• Accounting
• Banking and Financial Support Services
• Business Administration and Management
• Business/Managerial Economics
• Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
• Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration
• International Business/Trade/Commerce
• Management Information Systems and Services
• Management Information Systems
• Marketing/Marketing Management

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (5 awarded)

• Computer Science

CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (4 awarded)

• Environmental Science

DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS (0 awarded)

• Theatre Literature, History and Criticism

EDUCATION AND TEACHING (157 awarded)

• Art Teacher Education
• Biology Teacher Education
• Business Teacher Education
• Chemistry Teacher Education
• Computer Teacher Education
• Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Education
• Elementary Education and Teaching
• English/Language Arts Teacher Education
• History Teacher Education
• Mathematics Teacher Education
• Music Teacher Education
• Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
• Psychology Teacher Education
• Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
• Social Science Teacher Education
• Social Studies Teacher Education
• Spanish Language Teacher Education
• Speech Teacher Education

FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK (5 awarded)

• Public Administration
• Social Work

LIBERAL ARTS (90 awarded)

• English Language and Literature
• History
• Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
• Political Science and Government
• Sociology
• Spanish Language and Literature

MATHEMATICS (3 awarded)

• Mathematics

MEDIA (12 awarded)

• Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
• Mass Communication/Media Studies
• Organizational Communication

MUSIC (1 awarded)

• Music Performance
• Music

NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY (22 awarded)

• Athletic Training/Trainer
• Kinesiology and Exercise Science
• Sport and Fitness Administration/Management

PHOTOGRAPHY AND COMMERCIAL ART (4 awarded)

• Commercial and Advertising Art

RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY (1 awarded)

• Philosophy and Religious Studies

SCIENCE (24 awarded)

• Biological and Physical Sciences
• Biology/Biological Sciences
• Chemistry
• Physics

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (53 awarded)

• Criminal Justice/Safety Studies

THERAPY AND COUNSELING (68 awarded)

• Psychology