Teacher Education at Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,551/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (43% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (444,600 openings/yr)
ROI 3.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #232 of 348 Teacher Education programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Teacher Education graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $532K $528K $500K
Earnings Multiple 3.3x 3.3x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$160,760
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,284
54% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$28,900
7.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,766
18% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Buena Vista University's Teacher Education graduates start at $44,551/yr — above the $41,690 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 3.3x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Teacher Education's typical career paths, with 43% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $28,900 represents roughly 8 months of the $44,551 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #232 of 348 Teacher Education programs, Buena Vista University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $52,766 are relatively flat compared to the $44,551 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Buena Vista University

A 72% acceptance rate means Buena Vista University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 1,378 students in Storm Lake, IA. Pell Grant recipients make up 43% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity. The average net cost of $73,284 over four years represents a 54% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Buena Vista University →

Top Career Paths

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary $101,390/yr
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary $100,830/yr
View all 30 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Teacher Education at Other Schools

Other Majors at Buena Vista University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Teacher Education at Buena Vista University?
This program scores 50/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Teacher Education programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Teacher Education careers?
With 43% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $499,933 in decade earnings vs $531,869 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Buena Vista University a hidden gem for Teacher Education?
After financial aid, the average student pays $73,284 over four years — 54% below the $160,760 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →