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Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
53 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
54
Optimistic
53
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $49,099/yr (9% vs median)
AI Risk High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (447,800 openings/yr)
ROI 3.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #36 of 67 Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $565K $558K $509K
Earnings Multiple 3.5x 3.5x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 54 53 47

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
$20,834
5.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,334
25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $49,099/yr, edging above the $44,903 national average for Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

An earnings multiple of 3.5x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

At $20,834 in median debt against $49,099 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #36 of 67 Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations programs, Buena Vista University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $49,099 to $61,334 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Buena Vista University

Buena Vista University has a 72% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 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

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
General and operations managers $102,950/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 67 schools offering Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations →

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Other Schools

Boston College ($74,446) Brown University ($67,900) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($65,177) Texas Christian University ($65,028) University of Arizona ($64,211) Brigham Young University ($64,061) Elon University ($62,626) Utah Valley University ($60,448)

Other Majors at Buena Vista University

Accounting and Related Services ($53,280) Finance and Financial Management Services ($52,226) Business/Commerce, General ($48,810) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($47,385) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($44,551) Marketing ($42,972) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($42,834) Health and Physical Education/Fitness ($38,356)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Buena Vista University?
This program scores 53/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $509,125 in decade earnings vs $564,780 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Buena Vista University a hidden gem for Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations?
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 →