Saginaw Valley State University
#4 Best Education Colleges in Michigan- Graduation Rate
- 51% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $51,955 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $10,775 B
- 37% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 72% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 30.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $30.0 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Education Colleges in Michigan.
Every $1 spent returns $30.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,247,777.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 27% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $30.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.4%
- Top 57%
- Patents
- 33
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 48
- Downstream influence
Why Saginaw Valley State University Matters
Saginaw Valley State University is a public university in University Center, MI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 5,989
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Psychology
Why students choose Saginaw Valley State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 72% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 920–1170. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,775 a year after grants and scholarships — 37% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $51,955 ten years after enrolling — 27% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 59% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.38 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With nearly 6,000 students, Saginaw Valley State University is a solid choice for those looking to pursue degrees in practical fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Criminal Justice, and Psychology. The acceptance rate of 72% indicates that this school is accessible for many, making it a suitable option for students who value a supportive environment as they navigate their academic journey.
After graduation, students can expect to earn about $51,955 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure highlights the potential for financial growth in fields like business and health, especially for those who leverage their education effectively. The affordability of attending SVSU is also notable, with a net price of around $10,775 after financial aid, making it a reasonable investment for many families.
Looking at the debt load, students typically graduate with a median debt of $25,000, which is manageable for many graduates, especially considering the earnings potential. Those who thrive here are often motivated and focused on careers in fields that directly impact their communities. With a strong emphasis on practical education, SVSU prepares students to step into the workforce with confidence.
Rankings
- #4 Best Education Colleges in Michigan
- #8 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Michigan
- #14 Best Nursing Colleges in Michigan
- #14 Best MBA Programs in Michigan
- #15 Best Engineering Colleges in Michigan
- #18 Best Biology Colleges in Michigan
- #19 Best Bachelor's Programs in Michigan
- #19 Best Business Colleges in Michigan
Can I Get In?
How selective Saginaw Valley State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Saginaw Valley State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in University Center, Michigan, Saginaw Valley State University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 72%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,052. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 72%
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- SAT Average
- 1052
- ACT Midpoint
- 22
- SAT Range
- 920–1170
- ACT Range
- 18–26
- Full-Time Faculty
- 42%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,515
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.42
- First-Gen Students
- 33%
- Applicants
- 9,330
- Admitted
- 7,125
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Saginaw Valley State University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 16% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 16%
- of admits enroll
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Saginaw Valley State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Saginaw Valley State University is $30,450, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,775. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,844 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $12,930
- Out-of-State
- $30,450
- Avg Net Price
- $10,775
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 35%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 50%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,844
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $19,711
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $20,053
- Family Income $110K+
- $24,103
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Saginaw Valley State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Saginaw Valley State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Saginaw Valley State University earn a median of $51,955, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $43,530
- 8 Years
- $47,805
- 10 Years
- $51,955
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.48x
- Earning > $25K
- 64%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (230)
- 16%
- 100% (230)
- 16%
- 100% (230)
- 16%
- 100% (230)
- 16%
How Saginaw Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Saginaw Valley State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Saginaw Valley State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,775/year ($43,100 total). Graduates earn $51,955 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,290,877 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,247,777 (30.0× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 51% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $43,100
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,290,877
- Net Return
- $1,247,777
- ROI Multiple
- 30.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,775
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 51%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Saginaw Valley State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Saginaw Valley State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.29%, well above the typical college. About 6.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 20.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $86,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.29%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 20.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $117,523
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Saginaw Valley State University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 33 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.38%
- Top 57% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 33
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 48
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,260,676
- Investment Income
- $-2,459,787
Top Programs
The fields Saginaw Valley State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 19% $57,547 early-career
- Health Professions 19% $73,297 early-career
- Education 13% $43,920 early-career
- Psychology 5% $26,206 early-career
- Engineering 5% $93,087 early-career
- Criminal Justice 5% $40,656 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $33,550 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4% $35,787 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Saginaw Valley State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Saginaw Valley State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in University Center, Michigan, Saginaw Valley State University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 72%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,052. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Saginaw Valley State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Saginaw Valley State University is $30,450, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,775. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,844 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is Saginaw Valley State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Saginaw Valley State University earn a median of $51,955, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Saginaw Valley State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Saginaw Valley State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.29%, well above the typical college. About 6.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 20.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $86,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Saginaw Valley State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Saginaw Valley State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.38, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Saginaw Valley State University offer Early Decision?
No. Saginaw Valley State University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Saginaw Valley State University?
About 16% of admitted students choose to enroll at Saginaw Valley State University — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Saginaw Valley State University.
- Valdosta State UniversityValdosta, GA · Close peer42% grad $49,361 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Indiana State UniversityTerre Haute, IN · Close peer42% grad $48,387 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Wisconsin-Green BayGreen Bay, WI · Close peer50% grad $52,528 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, IL · Close peer45% grad $54,163 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- SUNY BrockportBrockport, NY · Close peer56% grad $54,496 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- SUNY Buffalo State UniversityBuffalo, NY · Close peer35% grad $52,334 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Saginaw Valley State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Saginaw Valley State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.38, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note