Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) vs Northwood U

Saginaw Valley State University and Northwood University, both located in Michigan, offer distinct educational experiences. Saginaw Valley, a public university, boasts a higher acceptance rate (85%) compared to Northwood's more selective admissions (75%). While Northwood excels in business-related programs, Saginaw Valley offers a wider range of majors, including nursing, education, and engineering. Northwood's smaller student body fosters a close-knit community, while Saginaw Valley's larger size provides a more diverse and vibrant campus life. With similar graduation rates, both universities ensure their students receive quality education and are well-prepared for their careers. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Northwood University logo

Northwood University

Saginaw Valley State University logo

Saginaw Valley State University

Overview

Location Midland, Michigan University Center, Michigan
Campus setting City: Small Suburb: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 85.0% 73.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.3% 77.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $50
SAT range N/A 960 - 1170
ACT range N/A 19 - 25
Students submitting SAT score 80.0%
Students submitting ACT score 6.0%
Total number of applicants 1,123 5,899
Total number of admissions given out 936 4,590
Admitted students who chose to enroll 293 1,336
Yield rate 31.3% 29.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $47,100
In state: $26,036

Out of state: $41,050
Average net price $23,080 $15,476
Tuition $29,000
In state: $11,130

Out of state: $26,144
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,960

Meal plan: $5,480
Room/dormitory: $4,608

Meal plan: $4,150
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

98.0%
Average amount $20,911
98.0%
Average amount $7,607
Students receiving federal student loan 89.0%
Average amount $5,569
54.0%
Average amount $5,138
Students taking out private loans 11.0%
Average amount $16,970
6.0%
Average amount $9,204

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,116
Men 59.6% Women 40.4%
6,789
Men 35.6% Women 64.4%
Graduate students 306
Men 54.6% Women 45.4%
734
Men 21.1% Women 78.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 17.4% N/A
International students 2.3% 3.2%
Campus local/setting City: Small Suburb: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 916 2,233
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Michigan Ohio Florida Texas N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Health Professions
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Business
  • Engineering
Students to faculty ratio 9:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 61.6% 42.5%
Dropout rate 36.9% 53.3%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,002
  • Year 2: $62,409
  • Year 3: $68,640
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,419
  • Year 2: $53,775
  • Year 3: $66,020
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,793
  • Year 2: $57,995
  • Year 3: $64,374
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,230
  • Year 2: $48,823
  • Year 3: $57,193
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,225
  • Year 2: $52,941
  • Year 3: $55,845
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,048
  • Year 2: $47,116
  • Year 3: $50,522
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,054
  • Year 2: $42,384
  • Year 3: $46,338
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,281
  • Year 2: $35,701
  • Year 3: $44,404
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,440
  • Year 2: $35,594
  • Year 3: $38,949
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,025
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,762
  • Year 2: $73,378
  • Year 3: $76,097
Computer Systems Analysis (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,415
  • Year 2: $64,990
  • Year 3: $71,386
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $59,169
  • Year 3: $70,201
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,282
  • Year 2: $64,990
  • Year 3: $66,489
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,511
  • Year 2: $61,688
  • Year 3: $63,045
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,063
  • Year 2: $56,776
  • Year 3: $62,740
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $60,104
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $40,641
  • Year 3: $55,381
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,943
  • Year 2: $44,468
  • Year 3: $53,829
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,863
  • Year 2: $48,682
  • Year 3: $53,438