Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, Michigan · Public · 72.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 52/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Saginaw Valley State University is a public institution in University Center, Michigan, enrolling about 5,989 undergraduates. In-state tuition is $12,930 and average net price is $10,775. Despite this, SVSU earns a Below Average Value ROI score of 52, constrained by a 48.3% completion rate, a 64.0% repayment rate, and a 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio at the institutional level. The earnings premium of 39.3% is solid and six-year average earnings of $35,400 are modest but grow to a median $51,955 at ten years. SVSU's engineering, nursing, and rehabilitation programs are bright spots, posting B to B+ grades, while arts, kinesiology, and some humanities programs carry D grades.
Saginaw Valley State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,930/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $30,450/yr |
| Average net price | $10,775/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $43,100 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,955 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 48.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,989 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $12,930/year ($30,450/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $10,775/year, or roughly $43,100 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $9,844/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,103/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,400) and comes to 0.71, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $9,844 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,711 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,053 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,879 |
| $110,001+ | $24,103 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $9,844 net. At that cost and with $25,000 in median debt, the financial stakes are manageable if the student graduates. The 48.3% completion rate is the dominant risk. Low-income students should actively engage with SVSU's retention resources from the first semester.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001 - $75,000 band pays $19,711 - $20,053 - significantly higher than the lowest-income bracket, which suggests limited aid expansion in this range. At $20,000 net, program selection matters even more: engineering and nursing justify the cost comfortably; psychology and design do not.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Above $75,000, families pay $18,879 - $24,103. The modest cost variation across income bands above $30,000 reflects SVSU's limited upper-income aid.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Saginaw Valley State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $81,103 | B |
| Teacher Education | $48,561 | D |
| Special Education and Teaching | $50,078 | C |
| Social Work | $56,961 | D |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $49,761 | C |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $70,081 | B+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $59,042 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $50,816 | D |
| Mechanical Engineering | $83,873 | B+ |
| Biology | $54,038 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering graduates 52 students with year-one earnings of $76,823 and $83,873 at four years, earning a B+ grade and 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio. Michigan's automotive and manufacturing corridor provides direct employer pipelines. At a $10,775 net price, SVSU mechanical engineering is an affordable engineering bet.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is SVSU's most common program at 168 graduates with year-one earnings of $76,244 and $81,103 at four years. A B grade and 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio confirm solid performance. Michigan's ongoing nursing demand in rural and mid-size markets like the Great Lakes Bay Region means consistent placement for graduates.
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
Rehabilitation and therapeutic professions graduates 56 students with year-one earnings of $59,937 and a B+ grade at a 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio - among SVSU's most efficient programs by debt burden. The four-year figure of $70,081 confirms career progression in an expanding field driven by Michigan's aging population.
Computer and Information Sciences
CIS graduates 26 students with year-one earnings of $68,037 and $90,681 at four years.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education is SVSU's second-most common program at 110 graduates, earning a D ROI grade: year-one earnings of $43,151, $48,561 at four years, and a 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio against $31,000 median debt. Michigan's teacher shortage creates demand, but the high debt load relative to entry-level teacher salaries creates early financial strain. State loan forgiveness programs should be explored.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 60.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 64.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 54.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 60.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Saginaw Valley State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 72.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 440-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-600 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-26 |
| Enrollment | 5,989 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 35.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,515 |
SVSU accepts about 72% of applicants. Middle 50% SAT runs 440 - 570 math and 480 - 600 reading; ACT composite 18 - 26. Merit scholarships are available and can reduce the already-modest net price.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
SVSU's nursing and rehabilitation programs differentiate it in health-science outcomes.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw Valley State University (this school) | 52 | $10,775 | $51,955 |
| Purdue University Northwest | 55 | $6,079 | $48,318 |
| SUNY Buffalo State University | 53 | $11,346 | $52,334 |
| Central Michigan University | 51 | $17,597 | $55,874 |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | 51 | $19,608 | $53,032 |
| Eastern Michigan University | 42 | $15,407 | $51,793 |
Who Thrives Here
SVSU fits Michigan students who want an affordable public path into engineering, nursing, or health sciences. The 72% admissions rate is moderately accessible. Students entering mechanical engineering or nursing can expect strong first-year earnings against manageable debt levels. The institution's close ties to manufacturing and automotive industries are an asset for engineering graduates.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Saginaw Valley State University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $10,775 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $51,955 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.8 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 48.3% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 64.0% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Saginaw Valley State University: Common Questions
Is Saginaw Valley State University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Saginaw Valley State University scores 52/100 on our ROI scale. At $10,775 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $51,955 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.8 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Saginaw Valley State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $10,775 a year, or roughly $43,100 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Saginaw Valley State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $51,955 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,155 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Saginaw Valley State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10.8 years for Saginaw Valley State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Saginaw Valley State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $35,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Saginaw Valley State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 48.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.