Saginaw Valley State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in University Center, Michigan. It enrolls 5,989 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes39
Value90
Affordability73
Selectivity41
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 72.1%, Saginaw Valley State University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
72.1%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
920 – 1170
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 26
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Saginaw Valley State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
0.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Saginaw Valley State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $10,775 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$10,775
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
35%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
50%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$12,930
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$30,450
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,340
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,340
Books & Supplies
$1,160
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,260
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,830
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,936
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$9,844
$30,001 – $48,000
$19,711
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,053
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,879
Over $110,000
$24,103
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,19810%percentile
$7,10425%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$31,00075%percentile
$42,13190%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,500
↓ $4,500
No Pell $14,000
↓ $11,000
Dependent students $17,500
↓ $7,500
Independent students $19,100
↓ $5,900
Female students $17,500
↓ $7,500
Male students $17,539
↓ $7,461
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,500, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
39% of full-time students who enrolled at Saginaw Valley State University graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
39%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Saginaw Valley State University earn a median of $51,955 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,955
Earning > $25K
79%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$39,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$38,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$45,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,200, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 75% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Saginaw Valley State University is home to 5,989 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 33% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
5,989
Part-Time
12%
First-Generation
33%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 75.5%4,522
Black 8.5%508
Hispanic 6.0%360
Other 4.3%256
International 2.7%160
Asian 1.3%79
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Saginaw Valley State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbUniversity Center, Michigan
Housing
Mostly residential2,413 beds on campus
Adult Learners
11%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Saginaw Valley State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
69 distinct programs across
21 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Saginaw Valley State University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,055
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$104M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$83,321
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
263 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
125
48%
$91,908
Associate Professors
71
27%
$81,355
Assistant Professors
50
19%
$74,029
Lecturers
17
6%
$55,725
Pros & Cons of Saginaw Valley State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Saginaw Valley State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Frequently Asked Questions about Saginaw Valley State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Saginaw Valley State University.
Is Saginaw Valley State University hard to get into?
Admissions at Saginaw Valley State University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 72.1%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Saginaw Valley State University?
Saginaw Valley State University has an acceptance rate of 72.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Saginaw Valley State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Saginaw Valley State University scored between 920 and 1170 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Saginaw Valley State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Saginaw Valley State University scored between 18 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Saginaw Valley State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Saginaw Valley State University is $10,775 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Saginaw Valley State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,955 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,775 per year. That's roughly 4.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Saginaw Valley State University known for?
Saginaw Valley State University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12), Special Education. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Saginaw Valley State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Saginaw Valley State University are $51,955, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Saginaw Valley State University accredited?
Yes. Saginaw Valley State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Saginaw Valley State University?
Saginaw Valley State University enrolls 5,989 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Saginaw Valley State University?
Saginaw Valley State University graduates 39% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Saginaw Valley State University a public or private college?
Saginaw Valley State University is a Public institution.
Where is Saginaw Valley State University located?
Saginaw Valley State University is located in University Center, Michigan.
What programs does Saginaw Valley State University offer?
Saginaw Valley State University offers 69 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12), Special Education.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Saginaw Valley State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Saginaw Valley State University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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