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University Center , MI
Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) is a public university located in Kochville Township, Michigan. Established in 1963, SVSU is known for its commitment to providing high-quality education, fostering community engagement, and preparing students for successful careers. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including business, education, health sciences, humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields.
SVSU is renowned for its dedication to student success and personalized learning experiences. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1, students benefit from small class sizes and individual attention from professors. The university boasts a vibrant campus community, offering numerous student organizations, clubs, and athletics programs. SVSU's commitment to community engagement is evident through its various community service initiatives, internships, and cooperative education opportunities, which provide students with hands-on experiences, professional development, and networking opportunities.
SVSU's campus is home to state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, well-equipped laboratories, and a stunning library. The university also offers a plethora of resources to support student success, such as tutoring services, career counseling, academic advising, and research opportunities. With its emphasis on academic excellence, community engagement, and holistic development, Saginaw Valley State University provides its students with a well-rounded education and equips them with the skills and knowledge needed for their future endeavours.
Saginaw Valley State University is a public four-year college located in University Center, MI. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 72%. The freshman retention rate at Saginaw Valley State University is 77.24% and the six-year graduation rate is 48%.
To find out more about what Saginaw Valley State University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
6,152
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
48%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. How difficult is it to get admitted to Saginaw Valley State University and what are the admission requirements?
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 8,516 in 2025. Saginaw Valley State University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 84% and ACT scores 3%. 0.61% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 18.21% between 1,200 and 1,399, 44.25% between 1,000 and 1,199, 30.23% of the students between 800 and 999, and 6.71% between 600 and 799. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 5.85, 24.56 between 24-29, 51.75 in the range between 18-23, 17.69 between 12-17, and 0.15 between 6-11.
The ACT composite average score for all the accepted students in 2025 was 22 and the average GPA was 3.53. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Saginaw Valley State University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 537 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 510.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Saginaw Valley State University was 77.24% in 2025, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 48%.
Student Body
Making the decision of which school is the best fit for you is not easy. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a clearer picture of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Saginaw Valley State University in 2025 was 6,822.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 4.87. There was a total of 6,152 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 160 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 327.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,986 male and 3,563 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 78 Asian students and 506 Afro-American students in 2025. 360 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 234 identified with more than one race. The school also had 2 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 20 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 104 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $13,680, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $30,000 in 2025. Tuition costs at Saginaw Valley State University for international students came to $30,000.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $30,000 | Not Available | $ 30,000 |
| In-State | $13,680 | Not Available | $13,680 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The estimated price of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,190.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Saginaw Valley State University was $12,500 in 2025. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school reached $6,500, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 13,680 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,500 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,190 |
| Total Expense | $ 27,370 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for a number of students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Saginaw Valley State University, here are some recent data you should consider.
According to the most recent data, 918 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $16,360.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
3,255 students were awarded some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Saginaw Valley State University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 3,357. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $15,136,025, and state $9,245,174. The students of Saginaw Valley State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $15,014,418, and external in the amount of $4,157,618.
$8,448
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 669 students overall (including freshmen) at Saginaw Valley State University in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 278 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $15,136,025 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $51,849. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $10,179,097. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $3,332,394 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
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The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Saginaw Valley State University was 16:1: that means 16 students per one teacher. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 618. This number included 138 male and 126 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Saginaw Valley State University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at Saginaw Valley State University.
It has a campus size of 782 acres.
Student Organizations
Exploring a variety of student organizations can contribute to a more vibrant and rewarding educational experience.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 170. That includes sororities and fraternities. 2 percent of male and 3 of female students participate actively in different organizations at Saginaw Valley State University. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is His House, followed by International Students Club and Alpha Phi Omega. Other popular organizations among the students at Saginaw Valley State University are Delta Sigma Pi and Criminal Justice Society.
Students who have a talent for music can join the Saginaw Valley State University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? Saginaw Valley State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Saginaw Valley State University offers a number of services needed for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Saginaw Valley State University.
All in all, campus life at Saginaw Valley State University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Saginaw Valley State University.
Career Counselling
At Saginaw Valley State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Understanding the potential salary after graduating can be of help in determining if a specific educational institution matches your professional aspirations.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this institution is 56,848 USD.
$56,848
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Saginaw Valley State University is located in University Center, MI.
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Saginaw Valley State University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Saginaw Valley State University is 72%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Saginaw Valley State University is 77.24%.
Contact Information
Saginaw Valley State University
7400 Bay Rd
University Center , MI
48710
989 964-4000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.