Buena Vista University vs Clarke University
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Buena Vista University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Clarke University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Buena Vista University at $27,595 vs Clarke University at $27,051. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $54,950 vs $55,368.
| Metric | Buena Vista University | Clarke University |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Private | Private |
| State | Ia | Ia |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $27,595 | $27,051* |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $54,950 | $55,368* |
| Majors Tracked | 20 | 19 |
| Best ROI Major | Computer and Information Sciences (94/100) | Computer Science (95/100)* |
| Best Major Debt | $23,514 | $22,695* |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $95,000 | $95,000 |
Buena Vista University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Clarke University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Buena Vista University at $27,595 vs Clarke University at $27,051. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $54,950 vs $55,368.
Explore More
Buena Vista University and Clarke University graduate students at similar rates — 100.0% and 100.0% respectively. With completion rates comparable, the comparison reduces to cost, earnings, and program mix; the institutional-effect-on-completion question essentially nets out.
Average median debt is roughly even across Buena Vista University and Clarke University. The cost side of the comparison effectively cancels out; the meaningful question becomes whether the program mix and the earnings outcomes differ enough to break the tie.
Median first-year earnings are roughly comparable between the schools — $54,950 and $55,368. With earnings close, the financial comparison turns mostly on the cost side: total debt at graduation is the lever, since the earnings denominator essentially nets out.
Both schools sit in Ia, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.