Human Resources Management and Services at Buena Vista University

Similar HR programs across Iowa suggest this program will produce first-year earnings around $49,500, which would land right at the state median but below what you'd see at Waldorf University ($78,000) or the University of Iowa ($53,000). The $27,300 in debt sits squarely in the middle of what Iowa HR graduates typically carry—essentially matching both state and national averages.

What makes this estimate harder to trust is that four years into their careers, Buena Vista graduates in this program earn $46,900—actually less than the estimated first-year figure. That backward slide is unusual and raises questions about whether these graduates are finding the advancement opportunities typical in HR roles. While the debt load isn't outrageous at 55% of that first-year estimate, you're looking at a program where peer comparisons suggest your child might start around the Iowa average but potentially lag peers from other state schools by graduation.

The practical reality: you're paying near-median debt for what comparable programs suggest will be median outcomes at best, with actual mid-career data showing stagnant earnings. Unless Buena Vista offers specific geographic connections or employer relationships that would change this trajectory, there's little in these estimated figures to suggest this program outperforms what you could find at state flagship or other Iowa options charging similar amounts.