Buena Vista University in Storm Lake has been named to Money magazine’s Best Colleges 2026 list, which evaluates four-year colleges based on educational quality, affordability and student outcomes.
The university joins more than 700 four-year colleges evaluated nationwide using 25 metrics across those three categories.
The quality-of-education category considers graduation rates, student-to-faculty ratios and outcomes for students receiving Pell Grants. Affordability measures include the net price of a degree, student debt and loan repayment rates.
The outcomes category examines alumni earnings and employment data drawn from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
To qualify for consideration, colleges must meet minimum enrollment requirements, demonstrate financial stability and maintain a graduation rate at or above the median for their institutional category. Schools can also qualify by demonstrating a high “value-added” graduation rate, meaning students graduate at a rate above what would be expected based on their economic and academic backgrounds.
Money magazine uses star ratings to help prospective students compare colleges based on their needs and budgets. The publication emphasizes that there is no single best college for every student.
(Photo Courtesy Buena Vista University Marketing & Communications)
