Saginaw Valley State University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families looking for lower cost. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 5,989 students.
About This School
Saginaw Valley State University is a public institution located in University Center, Michigan with approximately 5,989 undergraduate students enrolled. Saginaw Valley State University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 72%. The average net price after financial aid is $10,775 per year. The graduation rate is 48%, and the typical graduate earns $42,700 within 10 years of enrollment.
Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) is a public university in University Center, Michigan, United States. It was founded in 1963 as Saginaw Valley College and is the newest public university in Michigan. Its 748-acre campus is in Kochville Township, approximately 5.5 miles (8.9 km) north of downtown Saginaw, Michigan. SVSU offers over 100 academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels in its five colleges, with approximately 8,500 students at its main campus in University Center.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at $14,582/year average net price and only $17,500 in median debt at graduation, this school is genuinely affordable, which matters. However, the 54% graduation rate is a real concern — only about half of students who start here finish, which is worth asking hard questions about before committing. Worth considering if you're cost-conscious and have a clear plan to stay on track, but go in with eyes open.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 11% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Saginaw Valley State University graduates earn most above the national rate in Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions ($70,081 vs $55,792 nationally), and most below it in Marketing ($58,783 vs $69,303).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 168 | $81,103 | $88,910 | −$7,807 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 110 | $48,561 | $47,382 | +$1,179 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 65 | $50,078 | $50,499 | −$421 |
| Social Work | 62 | $56,961 | $51,790 | +$5,171 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 58 | $49,761 | $51,389 | −$1,628 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 56 | $70,081 | $55,792 | +$14,289 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 55 | $50,816 | $54,562 | −$3,746 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 55 | $59,042 | $55,378 | +$3,664 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 52 | $83,873 | $92,135 | −$8,262 |
| Psychology, General | 49 | $50,066 | $50,706 | −$640 |
| Biology, General | 49 | $54,038 | $57,214 | −$3,176 |
| Marketing | 42 | $58,783 | $69,303 | −$10,520 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (5,989 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Michigan
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI · Public
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI · Public
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI · Public
Mott Community College
Flint, MI · Public
Delta College
University Center, MI · Public
Wayne County Community College District
Detroit, MI · Public
See How Colleges Compare
Saginaw Valley State University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Saginaw Valley State University?
Saginaw Valley State University has an acceptance rate of 72%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Saginaw Valley State University hard to get into?
Not especially. Saginaw Valley State University has an acceptance rate of 72%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Saginaw Valley State University cost?
The average net price at Saginaw Valley State University is about $10,775 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Saginaw Valley State University?
Saginaw Valley State University has a graduation rate of 48%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
All school names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this page is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with CollegeHelpGuide.