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Overview |
Saginaw Valley State University | UC Merced | ||
| Location | University Center, MI | Merced, CA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 6,889 | 9,147 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #888 | #542 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | svsu.edu | ucmerced.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Saginaw Valley State University | UC Merced | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,240 | $11,834 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $28,752 | $42,611 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,700 | $20,293 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,144 | $13,232 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,611 | $24,868 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 81% |
Admission |
Saginaw Valley State University | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,222 | 67,891 | ||
| Admitted | 7,450 | 26,598 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 72.9% | 39.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.3% | 9.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.48 | 3.55 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | High | ||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 19/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1160 | 960/1140 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2025 |
Academics |
Saginaw Valley State University | UC Merced | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 21:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Saginaw Valley State University | UC Merced | ||
| Graduation Rate | 39% | 58% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,000 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 48% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $19,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $205 |
Diversity |
Saginaw Valley State University | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 4% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 13% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 48% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 8% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 6% | 1% |
Students |
Saginaw Valley State University | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 98% | 99% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 2% | 0% | ||
Campus |
Saginaw Valley State University | UC Merced | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of California Merced is larger than than Saginaw Valley State University based on total student enrollment (9,147 students vs. 6,889 students)
Saginaw Valley State University vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Saginaw Valley State University or UC Merced?
- Saginaw Valley State University is 3.4% more expensive to attend than UC Merced for in-state tuition ($12,240.00 vs. $11,834.00)
- Out of state tuition is 48.2% higher at UC Merced than Saginaw Valley State University ($42,611.00 vs. $28,752.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Merced than Saginaw Valley State University ($13,232 vs. $15,144)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saginaw Valley State University are 73.4% lower than costs at University of California Merced ($11,700 vs. $20,293)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Saginaw Valley State University than University of California Merced (98% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 158.7% larger than aid received Saginaw Valley State University ($24,868 vs. $9,611)
Saginaw Valley State University vs. UC Merced Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Saginaw Valley State University or UC Merced? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC Merced or Saginaw Valley State University .
- The average SAT score at Saginaw Valley State University (1030) is 5 points higher than at UC Merced (1025)
- Incoming UC Merced students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Saginaw Valley State University (22)
- Accepted freshman UC Merced students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Saginaw Valley State University (3.48)
- Saginaw Valley State University has a higher acceptance rate (72.9%) than UC Merced (39.2%)
Saginaw Valley State University vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Saginaw Valley State University or UC Merced? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UC Merced and Saginaw Valley State University.
- The graduation rate at UC Merced is higher than Saginaw Valley State University (58% vs. 39%)
- University of California Merced students graduate with a $7,101 lower median federal student loan debt than Saginaw Valley State University graduates. ($19,899 vs. $27,000)
- UC Merced graduates are paying $74 less per month on federal student loans than Saginaw Valley State University graduates. ($205 vs. $279)
- More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saginaw Valley State University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 48%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/