Saginaw Valley State University — College Profile

About

Saginaw Valley State University is a comprehensive public university in mid-Michigan renowned for its student-centered focus and exceptional value, featuring standout programs in nursing and the health sciences, business, education, and mechanical engineering. The university sets itself apart with high-caliber undergraduate research opportunities, small class sizes with zero teaching assistants, and modern on-campus housing consistently ranked among the best in the nation. Campus life offers a warm, community-oriented experience anchored by spirited NCAA Division II Cardinal athletics, more than 150 student organizations, and deeply engaged faculty mentorship.

Wikipedia: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.

Location

University Center, MI, 48710 · Suburb campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

DTW · Detroit

95 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

These figures are federal data and may be out of date.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$12,930$30,450

Housing & food (on campus)$12,340$12,340

Books & supplies$1,160$1,160

Cost of attendance$24,936$42,456 est.

Average net price$10,775Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$30,450

In-state: $12,930

Housing & food (on campus)$12,340

Books & supplies$1,160

Cost of attendance$42,456 est.

In-state: $24,936

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $10,775

est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$9,844

$30–48k

$19,711

$48–75k

$20,053

$75–110k

$18,879

$110k+

$24,103

Your family's actual price → Saginaw Valley State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2025-26

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$9,854

Share of first-years who get one32%

Source: Saginaw Valley State University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures.

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

51%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

19%

Back for yr 2

78%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

49% graduated · 30% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 20% left or unknown

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$43,530

10 yrs after entry$51,955

Debt

Median at graduation$25,000

Monthly payment$265

Middle 50% owe$7.1k–$31k

90th percentile$42,131

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

72%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1052

R 480–600 · M 440–570

ACT midpoint

Comp 18–26 · E 19–25 · M 17–26

SAT middle 50%: 920–1170

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If Saginaw Valley State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 37%Women 63%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

16 : 1

Pell grant

35%

First-gen

33%

Family income

$52,670

Independent

17%

Age at entry

21.0

Part-time

12%

Race & ethnicity

White

76%

Hispanic

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division II with football · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Lacrosse
Women's
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming and Diving (combined)
Men's · Women's
Tennis
Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$43,530

After 10 yrs

$51,955

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing168

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods110

Special Education and Teaching65

Social Work62

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas58

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions56

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness55

Criminal Justice and Corrections55

Mechanical Engineering52

Biology, General49

Psychology, General49

Marketing42

Business Administration, Management and Operations40

Accounting and Related Services38

Finance and Financial Management Services33

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities32

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$110M

Full-time faculty

42%

Faculty salary

$9,515/mo

Teaching spend

$9,060

per student

Federal loans

50%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (larger programs)

Research activity

Research college or university

$4M research spending

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, inclusive admissions