Education (Undergraduate)
Iowa Department of Education
Full Accreditation
The Iowa Department of Education holds BVU's teacher education program to the state standards required for PreK–12 educator preparation and licensure.
educate.iowa.gov ›
Rankings & Accreditation
Buena Vista University is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and has earned recognition for the outcomes, value, and impact of a BVU education. Below is the full picture of how BVU is held accountable — and how we measure up.
Institutional Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
Buena Vista University has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission — a regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education — since 1952.
BVU is an Open Pathways institution, meaning we are reaccredited every 10 years against HLC's standards of educational quality. Our most recent reaffirmation was in 2021, with our next comprehensive evaluation scheduled for 2030–31.
HLC accredits degree-granting post-secondary institutions across 19 states in the North Central region of the United States, including Iowa.
Program Accreditations
Program-Level Standards
In addition to institutional accreditation, several BVU programs are independently accredited by specialized accrediting bodies that hold them to the standards of their professions.
Social Work (Undergraduate)
Council on Social Work Education
CSWE
CSWE accredits the BVU Social Work program against the educational standards required for licensure and professional practice across all 50 states.
cswe.org ›Mental Health Counseling (Graduate)
Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs
CACREP
CACREP accredits BVU's graduate Mental Health Counseling program against national standards for licensure-track counselor preparation.
cacrep.org ›By the Numbers
How BVU Measures Up
Institutional indicators reported by Buena Vista University — outcomes, access, and the close-knit scale of a BVU education.
97%
of the Class of 2025 employed, in graduate school, or satisfied with their career status within six months
13:1
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
<20
average class size, supporting close mentorship
100%
of full-time Storm Lake students who applied received financial aid
$15.8M
Awarded in Institutional Scholarships Annually
76%
of Storm Lake graduates remain in Iowa after graduation
82%
of online and graduate program graduates remain in Iowa
50+ years
of leadership in online education at BVU
External Recognition
Rankings & Recognitions
Third-party rankings and recognitions earned by Buena Vista University — updated as new lists are published.
Questions about BVU's accreditation?
For verification of accreditation status, contact the Higher Learning Commission directly, or reach out to BVU's Office of the President and Provost.