About BVU
Founded in 1891, Buena Vista University helps students build meaningful futures through personalized education, hands-on learning, and strong career outcomes.
Whether you're beginning your college journey, completing a degree, advancing your career, or preparing for what's next, you'll find flexible pathways, dedicated support, and opportunities to grow personally and professionally.
As a leader in rural education and innovation, BVU empowers students to build confidence, foster meaningful connections, and create positive change in their communities and beyond.
Your educational journey is unique, and your university experience should be too.
At BVU, you'll find programs and pathways designed to meet you where you are and help you get where you want to go. Whether you're looking for a vibrant campus experience, the flexibility of online learning, or a graduate degree that supports your professional goals, you'll benefit from personalized support and a community invested in your success.
You'll gain more than knowledge. You'll develop the confidence, experience, and connections to move forward with purpose.
Immerse yourself in a traditional college experience featuring hands-on learning, student organizations, Division III athletics, leadership opportunities, and a vibrant residential community on the shores of Storm Lake.
Earn your degree with the flexibility to balance coursework alongside work, family, military service, or other responsibilities while receiving support from dedicated faculty and staff.
Advance your career through practical, career-focused programs designed for working professionals who want to expand their expertise and create new opportunities.
Our mission, vision, and motto are more than guiding principles—they shape every aspect of the BVU experience. From personalized learning and meaningful mentorship to opportunities for leadership and service, you'll be challenged to grow academically, personally, and professionally.
Education for Service
For more than 130 years, this simple but powerful motto has reflected Buena Vista University's commitment to preparing graduates to lead with purpose, serve others, and make a meaningful difference.
We prepare students for lifelong success through transformational educational experiences.
Our mission
Every student will unlock their greatest potential to build better lives and stronger communities.
Our vision
You'll join a community where every individual is respected, included, and valued. We believe meaningful connections create opportunities for growth, support, and success, and we encourage every member of the BVU community to contribute through service and stewardship.
Your education doesn't stop at earning a degree. We embrace curiosity, lifelong learning, continuous improvement, and innovation, helping you grow personally, professionally, and academically throughout your journey.
Challenges create opportunities to learn and lead. Inspired by our history and strengthened by experience, we approach change with adaptability, creativity, and integrity. At BVU, you'll develop the resilience needed to navigate obstacles and build a successful future.
From personalized learning and hands-on experiences to career success after graduation, these numbers reflect what makes the BVU experience unique.
Founded in 1891 by the Presbyterian Church, Buena Vista University began as a small college on the shores of Storm Lake with a bold mission: to make quality higher education accessible to the people of northwest Iowa.
Through world wars, economic uncertainty, and the changing landscape of higher education, BVU has continued to evolve while remaining true to its founding purpose—that education has the power to transform lives.
Buena Vista College is founded by the Presbyterian Church in Storm Lake, Iowa, with a mission centered on character, scholarship, and service.
The Hobo Days tradition, a day of collecting and distributing food for hungry and homeless people at local train depots, which later evolved into Buenafication Day, was founded
The Beaver becomes BVU’s mascot, symbolizing the hard work and determination of its students and teams.
Buena Vista College earned full accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. That same year, Old Main was destroyed by fire. President Fisher’s message to the campus became a defining statement of resilience and faith, reflecting the community’s ability to rebuild
This period marked a major expansion, including the construction of Schaller Chapel, new residence halls, a science building, a physical education complex, a library, a campus center, and a classroom-administration building.
The college opened its first satellite location in Fort Dodge to serve non-traditional students. This provided a pathway for working adults to complete their bachelor’s degrees locally
For the very first time at Convocation, students processed through the Victory Arch, beginning a lasting campus tradition.
An anonymous $18 million gift launched a new era for the college. Five years later, the donor was revealed, and the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business and Siebens Forum were dedicated in his name. The gift built the foundation for a competitive endowment that supported construction, renovations, and academic programs. Buenafication Day became an official tradition
The Christmas Dinner tradition began, with faculty and staff volunteering to serve meals to students.
Buena Vista College officially became Buena Vista University, reflecting the expansion of academic programs and the introduction of graduate studies
BVU became the nation’s first “wireless community” by providing laptops to all full-time students and faculty on the Storm Lake campus, connected to a campus-wide wireless network.
The opening of the Lamberti Recreation Center and Estelle Siebens Science Center transformed campus with new spaces for learning, recreation, and student engagement.
Programs such as BVU’s Signature Work and Career Connect emphasized hands-on experiences, internships, and undergraduate research, preparing students for real-world challenges
The Lamberti family made a $2.9 million gift to fund The Donald F. and Charlene K. Lamberti Center for Rural Entrepreneurship. BVU also launched its Institute for Agriculture, expanding opportunities in agricultural education and research.
BVU shared its ten-year strategic vision to “unlock every student’s greatest potential to build better lives and stronger communities” and expanded academic programs both on campus and online
BVU opened its new apartment- style residence hall and unveiled its 7,500-square-foot Athletic Performance Facility, enhancing both the student experience and the campus community.
BVU continues to build on its founding mission, expanding academic opportunities, strengthening partnerships, and preparing students to make a meaningful impact in Iowa and beyond.
Under the leadership of President Brian Lenzmeier, Buena Vista University is investing in academic innovation, student success, and community partnership to position BVU for its next era of growth.
Buena Vista University has maintained continuous accreditation since 1952, affirming our commitment to academic excellence and institutional integrity.
Whether you’re a prospective student, a parent, or a school counselor — we’d love to show you what makes BVU different.