Allen College vs. Buena Vista University

Should I go to Allen College or Buena Vista University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Allen College or Buena Vista University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Allen College vs. Buena Vista University comparison
Allen College Buena Vista University College 3 College 4
Buena Vista University
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Overview

Allen College Buena Vista University
Location Waterloo, IA Storm Lake, IA
Setting Rural Fringe Remote Town
Enrollment 489 1,951
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #719
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website allencollege.edu bvu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Allen College Buena Vista University
Tuition (In State) $19,516 $40,190
Tuition (Out of State) $19,516 $40,190
Room & Board $8,800 $10,896
Avg Net Price - $18,156
Avg Grant Aid $0 $34,333
% Receiving Grant Aid 0% 99%

Admission

Allen College Buena Vista University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 1,544
Admitted - 1,108
Acceptance Rate 71.8%
Enrolled % 19.6%
Avg High School GPA - 3.49
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/24
SAT Range 930/1130
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Allen College Buena Vista University
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (100%)
  • Business (34%)
  • General Studies (18%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

Allen College Buena Vista University
Graduation Rate 50% 55%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,100 $41,200
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,750 $24,022
Median Loan Payment $173 $248

Diversity

Allen College Buena Vista University
% Men 6% 4%
% Women 37% 22%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 87% 80%
% Black 2% 1%
% Hispanic 0% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 1%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 8% 7%

Students

Allen College Buena Vista University
% In-State 100% 74%
% Out-of-State 0% 26%

Campus

Allen College Buena Vista University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Buena Vista University is larger than than Allen College based on total student enrollment (1,951 students vs. 489 students)

Allen College vs. Buena Vista University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Allen College or Buena Vista University?

  • Buena Vista University is 105.9% more expensive to attend than Allen College for in-state tuition ($40,190.00 vs. $19,516.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 105.9% higher at Buena Vista University than Allen College ($40,190.00 vs. $19,516.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Allen College are 23.8% lower than costs at Buena Vista University ($8,800 vs. $10,896)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Buena Vista University than Allen College (99% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Buena Vista University students is ?% larger than aid received Allen College ($34,333 vs. $0)

Which college is harder to get into, Allen College or Buena Vista University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Buena Vista University or Allen College .

Allen College vs. Buena Vista University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Allen College or Buena Vista University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Buena Vista University and Allen College.

  • The graduation rate at Buena Vista University is higher than Allen College (55% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Allen College earn on average $7,900 more per year than Buena Vista University graduates after ten years. ($49,100 vs. $41,200)
  • Allen College students graduate with a $7,272 lower median federal student loan debt than Buena Vista University graduates. ($16,750 vs. $24,022)
  • Allen College graduates are paying $75 less per month on federal student loans than Buena Vista University graduates. ($173 vs. $248)
  • More Allen College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Buena Vista University students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/