Buena Vista University Acceptance Rate
Storm Lake, Iowa · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 1,544
- Admitted
- 1,108
- Yield
- 19.6%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Buena Vista University's acceptance rate has risen from 67.9% in 2014–15 to 71.8% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 1,227 to 1,544 (+26%) over that period.
Its 71.8% rate makes Buena Vista University more selective than about 59% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 26 tracked Iowa schools, it is more selective than about 69%.
In 2023–24, men were admitted at a higher rate (71.3% for women vs 77.6% for men, a 6.3-point gap). Buena Vista University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 19.6% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 1,227 | 833 | 67.9% | 201 |
| 2015–16 | 1,372 | 934 | 68.1% | 223 |
| 2016–17 | 1,256 | 800 | 63.7% | 183 |
| 2017–18 | 1,477 | 943 | 63.8% | 203 |
| 2018–19 | 2,055 | 1,174 | 57.1% | 201 |
| 2019–20 | 2,101 | 1,205 | 57.4% | 230 |
| 2020–21 | 1,787 | 995 | 55.7% | 229 |
| 2021–22 | 1,749 | 1,154 | 66% | 237 |
| 2022–23 | 1,562 | 1,207 | 77.3% | 236 |
| 2023–24 | 1,544 | 1,108 | 71.8% | 217 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 808 | 576 | 71.3% |
| Men | 612 | 475 | 77.6% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 18–25 | 38% |
How Buena Vista University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Buena Vista University's acceptance rate?
Buena Vista University's acceptance rate is 71.8% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (1,108 admitted of 1,544 applicants).
Is Buena Vista University test optional?
Buena Vista University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Buena Vista University?
Buena Vista University received 1,544 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 1,108.
Is Buena Vista University getting harder to get into?
Buena Vista University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 67.9% in 2014–15 to 71.8% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.bvu.edu/.