Match #1
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI
Profile closeness90/100
Admit rate84%
- 6,556 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Graduation rate 54%, close to 51%
- Enrollment 6,556 students, close to 5,989
The colleges most similar to Saginaw Valley State University are Northern Michigan University, Ferris State University, and Eastern Michigan University. Saginaw Valley State University admits 72% of applicants and has an average net price of $12,147 a year; 4 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 10 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with Saginaw Valley State University. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to Saginaw Valley State University
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI
Profile closeness79/100
Admit rate91%
- 8,106 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Graduation rate 44%, close to 51%
- Enrollment 8,106 students, close to 5,989
Match #3
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI
Profile closeness78/100
Admit rate80%
- 10,055 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 46%, close to 51%
- Acceptance rate 80%, close to 72%
Match #4
Oakland University-Michigan
Rochester Hills, MI
Profile closeness76/100
Admit rate88%
- 12,351 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 58%, close to 51%
- Average net price $11,815, close to $12,147
Match #5
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI
Profile closeness75/100
Admit rate85%
- 12,568 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Graduation rate 59%, close to 51%
- Average net price $13,902, close to $12,147
Match #6
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate92%
- 5,955 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Enrollment 5,955 students, close to 5,989
- Average net price $13,446, close to $12,147
Match #7
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI
Profile closeness72/100
Admit rate90%
- 10,035 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Same control type (public)
Match #8
Wayne State University-Michigan
Detroit, MI
Profile closeness71/100
Admit rate81%
- 15,587 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Average net price $11,212, close to $12,147
- Acceptance rate 81%, close to 72%
Match #9
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, MI
Profile closeness68/100
Admit rate73%
- 1,325 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Graduation rate 50%, close to 51%
- Acceptance rate 73%, close to 72%
Match #10
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI
Profile closeness66/100
Admit rate83%
- 18,854 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Same control type (public)
Questions about Saginaw Valley State University alternatives
What colleges are similar to Saginaw Valley State University?
The closest matches to Saginaw Valley State University are Northern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Eastern Michigan University, Oakland University-Michigan, and Western Michigan University. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is Saginaw Valley State University hard to get into?
Saginaw Valley State University admitted 72% of its 5,899 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is moderately selective. 10 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which Saginaw Valley State University alternatives cost less?
4 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Saginaw Valley State University ($12,147 a year), including Ferris State University ($8,402), Lake Superior State University ($9,782), and Wayne State University-Michigan ($11,212). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
