Storm Lake, IA · Clery Act 2023 · Private Nonprofit

Buena Vista University

According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 1,951-student campus.

3.08
Incidents / 1k students
#2,280
Rank of 3,050
#30
IA rank
1,951
Enrolled students

Data updated June 2026

The verdict

Buena Vista University reports 3.08 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #2,280 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses.

3.08
incidents / 1,000 students
#2,280
of 3,050 ranked nationally
2
on-campus incidents, 2023

Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).

Reporting-period change

What changed in 2023

-4 reported incidents

Buena Vista University decreased from 6 to 2 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.

This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.

See national reporting-year changes

Buena Vista University is a Private Nonprofit institution located in Storm Lake, IA, enrolling approximately 1,951 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 15 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within IA, it ranks #30 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →

With 1,951 enrolled students, this campus sits in the small college bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.

The most frequently reported category at Buena Vista University is "Burglary" with 7 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in IA averaging 2.77 incidents per 1,000 students, Buena Vista University reports 11% more incidents per student.

Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 1 total fire. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 9 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.

Safety Score

3.08 /1K students

incidents per 1,000 enrolled

National Rank

#2280

See peer comparison

State Rank (IA)

#30

within state peers

Incidents (2023)

2

across 11 crime categories

Safety percentile vs. peers

Buena Vista University percentile rank 25.2%
National median

Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #2280 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.

Reporting density vs peer median

Buena Vista University reports 11% more incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.

Academic & Financial Profile

Tuition & Costs

In-State Tuition
$41,798
Out-of-State Tuition
$41,798
Avg Net Price
$18,846
Median Debt
$25,000
Pell Grant Recipients
44%
How does this cost rank in IA? →

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
78%
SAT Average
1120
ACT Average
22
ACT Range
19–26

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate
54%
Retention Rate
76%
Median Earnings (6yr)
$43,572
Median Earnings (10yr)
$49,156
Loan Repayment (3yr)
65%

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.

Crime Statistics by Year

11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus only

Buena Vista University: on-campus incidents by year

Declining 71% (7 → 2 incidents)

02468 202120222023 7 2 ▼ -71.4%
Crime Type 202320222021
Aggravated Assault 010
Arson 100
Burglary 124
Fondling 031
Incest 000
Motor Vehicle Theft 000
Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter 000
Negligent Manslaughter 000
Rape 002
Robbery 000
Statutory Rape 000

Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents

Fire Safety

Year Fires Inj. Deaths Cat I Cat II
2023 1 0 0 0 0

Arrests & Disciplinary Actions

9 category-year records
Disposition26%47%27%ArrestsDisciplinary referralsNo action
9 reported records
Category Year Arrests Discipline
Drugs 2023 2 16
Liquor 2023 0 24
Weapons 2023 0 0
Drugs 2022 0 28
Liquor 2022 0 63
Weapons 2022 0 1
Drugs 2021 2 20
Liquor 2021 0 53
Weapons 2021 0 1

Buena Vista University vs peer institutions

Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment

Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).

Selected

IA

Buena Vista University

3.08 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#2,280
Enrollment
1,951
Data year
2023

Similar Institutions

University of Maine at Farmington
Farmington, ME · 1,950 enrolled
Safety Score 9.74
St. Thomas Aquinas College
Sparkill, NY · 1,950 enrolled
Safety Score 1.54
University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences
San Juan, PR · 1,950 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00
Cambridge College
Boston, MA · 1,952 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00
Gustavus Adolphus College
St Peter, MN · 1,952 enrolled
Safety Score 2.56

Closest by National Rank

Institutions ranked nearest Buena Vista University nationally (rank #2280), regardless of size or state.

University of North Texas
Denton, TX
National Rank #2279
Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA
National Rank #2281
Southwestern Michigan College
Dowagiac, MI
National Rank #2278
University of North Alabama
Florence, AL
National Rank #2282
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
National Rank #2277

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Buena Vista University safe?
Buena Vista University has a safety score of 3.08 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #2,280 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Buena Vista University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Buena Vista University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in IA.
Does Buena Vista University have fire safety data?
Yes. Buena Vista University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 1 fire was reported in the most recent year.

Understanding Buena Vista University's Safety Profile

Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, IA enrolls 1,951 students and has a safety score of 3.08 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #2280 nationally.

Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents decreased from 6 in 2022 to 2 in 2023.

Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. 1 fire was reported in the most recent year.

What this means for you

Buena Vista University's 3.08 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.

Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.

Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.