Buena Vista University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Buena Vista University charges a net price of $18,846/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $75,384. Graduates earn a median $49,156 ten years after entry, $796/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 94.7 years — a 20-year net return of -$59,464, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Buena Vista University's 94.7-year payback ranks #1,232 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 4% of them, and #26 of 47 in Iowa.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $18,846/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $75,384 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,156 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $796/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 94.7 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$59,464 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Buena Vista University's own numbers. Net price $18,846 × 4 years = $75,384 total. Median earnings $49,156 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $796 a year of premium. $75,384 ÷ $796 = 94.7 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$59,464. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Buena Vista University students graduate with?
A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 51% of the $49,156 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Buena Vista University students graduate?
62% finish their degree — 38% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $75,384 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $121,587 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Buena Vista University expensive compared with other Iowa colleges?
Its $18,846 net price runs $257 above the $18,589 median across the 47 Iowa colleges we profile, or $1,028 more across the full degree.