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University Center, MI · Public · 5,989 undergraduates · suburban

Saginaw Valley State University

Moderately selective

SVSU is a teaching-focused regional public where small classes and field-based learning are more central than research-university scale.

Campus image / Publicly hosted campus image

Institutional profile

Regionally focused Solid in affordability, and steady in mobility.
Academic Steady Affordability Solid Career Steady Mobility Steady Experience Emerging
Academic standing Steady
Affordability Solid
Career outcomes Steady
Mobility Steady
Student experience Emerging
Admission
72.9% admitted

10,222 applicants in the reported year

Price by income
Resident and nonresident prices differ

Compare recent average annual costs by household income

Completion
50.7%

$51,955 median earnings 10 years after enrollment

What sets Saginaw Valley State University apart

Academic design

More than 90 undergraduate programs span business, nursing and health, education, engineering, sciences and liberal arts, with faculty involving students directly in research.

Campus pattern

The suburban University Center campus serves Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region and feels self-contained while remaining tied to Saginaw, Bay City and Midland.

Career & value signal

Regional employers in healthcare, manufacturing and chemicals create a practical internship market for students in nursing, engineering and business.

Can I get in?

72.9% admitted

Start with the academic record, then make the intended direction and school-specific fit concrete.

Recent applicant pool

10,222

About 73 in every 100 applicants were admitted.

Admission rate 72.9%
Entering class

Academic range

SAT middle 50%940–1160
8001300
ACT middle 50%19–25
1529

Of admitted students, 85% submitted an SAT, and 3% submitted an ACT. The ACT range comes from a small share of admitted students and does not describe the full class.

Academic benchmarkModerately selective

In the season card

Where your GPA sits in the entering class

The full entering-class GPA distribution for Saginaw Valley State University, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.

See where I land

In the season card

What Saginaw Valley State University weighs when it reads a file

See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.

  • Course rigor  
  • GPA  
  • Test scores  
  • Essay  
  • Recommendations  
  • Extracurriculars  
  • Demonstrated interest  
See what counts here

What moves the application

The evidence that separates a strong file

01

Show preparation for this curriculum

More than 90 undergraduate programs span business, nursing and health, education, engineering, sciences and liberal arts, with faculty involving students directly in research.

02

Make institutional fit specific

SVSU is a teaching-focused regional public where small classes and field-based learning are more central than research-university scale.

03

Use the application route carefully

Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.

How to apply

Rounds, route, and required materials

Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and assemble each required item once.

Regular Decisionrolling
Application routeInstitution application

$50 application fee

Major and program admission

Some fields have their own entry path.

The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.

BusinessAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Teacher preparationAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

NursingAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Can I afford it?

Compare annual cost by household income.

Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.

Published annual cost$29,620
Average annual cost after aid, in-state$11,000
Affordability profileSolid

In the season card

Average annual cost by household income at Saginaw Valley State University

Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.

  • $0–30k 
  • $30–48k 
  • $48–75k 
  • $75–110k 
  • $110k+ 
Open the price by income

Is it worth it?

Completion, debt, and earnings

Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.

Complete within 8 years50.7%

Degree completion across the reported entering cohort

Return after year one76.5%

First-year students who return for year two

Median federal debtWhat students owe on the way out

And what that comes to against what they earn.

Median earnings$51,955

Reported 10 years after enrollment

Academic portfolio

Largest bachelor’s fields

How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.

Social Work

Recent graduates62
Median earnings$56,961

What is campus life like?

Saginaw Valley State University beyond the classroom

The suburban University Center campus serves Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region and feels self-contained while remaining tied to Saginaw, Bay City and Midland.

Academics

A defining academic feature

More than 90 undergraduate programs span business, nursing and health, education, engineering, sciences and liberal arts, with faculty involving students directly in research.

Campus setting

What shapes an ordinary week

The suburban University Center campus serves Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region and feels self-contained while remaining tied to Saginaw, Bay City and Midland.

Career & value

Where the degree can lead

Regional employers in healthcare, manufacturing and chemicals create a practical internship market for students in nursing, engineering and business.

5,989 undergraduatesMidwestsuburban settingCampus housing available