Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
36
Optimistic
36
Base Case
33
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,356/yr (24% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (25% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (128,800 openings/yr)
ROI 3.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #288 of 529 Health and Physical Education/Fitness programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Health and Physical Education/Fitness graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $520K $520K $486K
Earnings Multiple 3.2x 3.2x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 42% 42% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 36 36 33

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
$27,000
8.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,330
36% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $38,356 at Buena Vista University come in 24% above the national median of $31,057 for Health and Physical Education/Fitness programs.

An earnings multiple of 3.2x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Health and Physical Education/Fitness's typical career paths, with 25% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $38,356 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #288 of 529 Health and Physical Education/Fitness programs, Buena Vista University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $38,356 to $52,330 over five years — a 36% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Buena Vista University

Buena Vista University accepts 72% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, 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

Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling $77,180/yr
Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary $75,890/yr
Athletes and sports competitors $62,360/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Health and Physical Education/Fitness 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 Health and Physical Education/Fitness at Buena Vista University?
A score of 36/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Health and Physical Education/Fitness. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Buena Vista University a hidden gem for Health and Physical Education/Fitness?
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 →