Southern Illinois University vs. Saginaw Valley State University

Deciding between Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Saginaw Valley State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Saginaw Valley State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL
  • Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI
  • Setting
  • Southern Illinois University Rural Fringe
  • Saginaw Valley State University Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Southern Illinois University 11,790
  • Saginaw Valley State University 6,822
  • Type
  • Southern Illinois University Public 4 Year
  • Saginaw Valley State University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Southern Illinois University #537
  • Saginaw Valley State University #860
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Southern Illinois University -
  • Saginaw Valley State University -
  • Status
  • Southern Illinois University Non-profit
  • Saginaw Valley State University Non-profit
  • Website
  • Southern Illinois University siu.edu
  • Saginaw Valley State University svsu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Southern Illinois University
  • Saginaw Valley State University
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Southern Illinois University $13,334
  • Saginaw Valley State University $12,930
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Southern Illinois University $13,334
  • Saginaw Valley State University $30,450
  • Room & Board
  • Southern Illinois University $12,341
  • Saginaw Valley State University $12,340
  • Average Net Price
  • Southern Illinois University $13,473
  • Saginaw Valley State University $11,546
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Southern Illinois University $13,610
  • Saginaw Valley State University $13,512
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Southern Illinois University 95%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 98%
  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Southern Illinois University Calculate
  • Saginaw Valley State University Calculate
  • Applied
  • Southern Illinois University 10,858
  • Saginaw Valley State University 11,816
  • Admitted
  • Southern Illinois University 9,433
  • Saginaw Valley State University 8,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Southern Illinois University 86.9%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 72.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Southern Illinois University 18.6%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 16%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Southern Illinois University 1030
  • Saginaw Valley State University 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • Southern Illinois University 21
  • Saginaw Valley State University 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • Southern Illinois University 3.24
  • Saginaw Valley State University 3.48
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Southern Illinois University B+
  • Saginaw Valley State University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Southern Illinois University Easy
  • Saginaw Valley State University Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Southern Illinois University
  • Saginaw Valley State University Low
  • ACT Range
  • Southern Illinois University 18/25
  • Saginaw Valley State University 18/26
  • SAT Range
  • Southern Illinois University 900/1160
  • Saginaw Valley State University 920/1170
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Southern Illinois University Test optional
  • Saginaw Valley State University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Southern Illinois University
  • Saginaw Valley State University
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Southern Illinois University 11:1
  • Saginaw Valley State University 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Southern Illinois University
    • Education (20%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Saginaw Valley State University
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Human Services (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Southern Illinois University 44%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Southern Illinois University $47,800
  • Saginaw Valley State University $41,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Southern Illinois University 51%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 48%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Southern Illinois University $22,500
  • Saginaw Valley State University $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Southern Illinois University $232
  • Saginaw Valley State University $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Southern Illinois University 47%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 35%
  • % Women
  • Southern Illinois University 53%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Southern Illinois University Medium
  • Saginaw Valley State University Low
  • HBCU
  • Southern Illinois University No
  • Saginaw Valley State University No
  • % White
  • Southern Illinois University 64%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 71%
  • % Asian
  • Southern Illinois University 2%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 1%
  • % Black
  • Southern Illinois University 19%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Southern Illinois University 8%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 4%
  • % Native American
  • Southern Illinois University 0%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Southern Illinois University 0%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Southern Illinois University 3%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 2%
  • % International
  • Southern Illinois University 4%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Southern Illinois University 0%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 6%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Southern Illinois University 85%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 94%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Southern Illinois University 14%
  • Saginaw Valley State University 3%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Southern Illinois University Yes
  • Saginaw Valley State University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Southern Illinois University No
  • Saginaw Valley State University No
  • Meal Plan
  • Southern Illinois University Yes
  • Saginaw Valley State University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Southern Illinois University Yes
  • Saginaw Valley State University No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Southern Illinois University Yes
  • Saginaw Valley State University No
  • Learn More
  • Southern Illinois University Details
  • Saginaw Valley State University Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Carbondale, IL with Saginaw Valley State University in University Center, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is larger than Saginaw Valley State University based on total student enrollment (11,790 students vs. 6,822 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Saginaw Valley State University is in University Center, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saginaw Valley State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Southern Illinois University Carbondale 11:1; Saginaw Valley State University 16:1.

Southern Illinois University vs. Saginaw Valley State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southern Illinois University or Saginaw Valley State University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saginaw Valley State University than Southern Illinois University ($11,546 vs. $13,473).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saginaw Valley State University are 0% lower than at Southern Illinois University Carbondale ($12,340 vs. $12,341).
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale is 3.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saginaw Valley State University (about $404 more per year; $13,334.00 vs. $12,930.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 128.4% higher at Saginaw Valley State University than at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (about $17,116 more per year; $30,450.00 vs. $13,334.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saginaw Valley State University than at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (98% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Illinois University Carbondale students is 0.7% larger than aid received by Saginaw Valley State University students ($13,610 vs. $13,512).

Southern Illinois University vs. Saginaw Valley State University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southern Illinois University or Saginaw Valley State University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Saginaw Valley State University and Southern Illinois University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saginaw Valley State University (1050) is 20 points higher than at Southern Illinois University (1030).
  • Incoming Saginaw Valley State University students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at Southern Illinois University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southern Illinois University Carbondale 900/1160; Saginaw Valley State University 920/1170.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southern Illinois University Carbondale 18/25; Saginaw Valley State University 18/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Southern Illinois University - Test optional; Saginaw Valley State University - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Saginaw Valley State University students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Southern Illinois University (3.24).
  • Southern Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (86.9%) than Saginaw Valley State University (72.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.6% at Southern Illinois University vs. 16% at Saginaw Valley State University.

Southern Illinois University vs. Saginaw Valley State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southern Illinois University and Saginaw Valley State University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Saginaw Valley State University's (39%).
  • Graduates from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Saginaw Valley State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Saginaw Valley State University graduates ($22,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Southern Illinois University graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saginaw Valley State University graduates ($232 vs. $279).
  • More Southern Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saginaw Valley State University students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 48%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.