Saginaw Valley State University vs. Bluffton University

Comparable Facts

Compare Saginaw Valley State University in University Center, MI with Bluffton University in Bluffton, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Saginaw Valley State University is larger than Bluffton University based on total student enrollment (6,822 students vs. 646 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saginaw Valley State University is located in University Center, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Bluffton University is in Bluffton, OH (Distant Town setting).
• Saginaw Valley State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bluffton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saginaw Valley State University 16:1; Bluffton University 11:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bluffton University are 1% lower than at Saginaw Valley State University ($12,220 vs. $12,340).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.7% higher at Bluffton University than at Saginaw Valley State University (about $6,912 more per year; $37,362 vs. $30,450).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bluffton University than at Saginaw Valley State University (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bluffton University students is 133% larger than aid received by Saginaw Valley State University students ($31,481 vs. $13,512).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Saginaw Valley State University than at Bluffton University (22 vs. 19, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Saginaw Valley State University and Bluffton University.
• Enrolled first-year students at Saginaw Valley State University average a 3.48 high school GPA, 0.22 higher than at Bluffton University (3.26).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16% at Saginaw Valley State University vs. 9% at Bluffton University.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bluffton University and Saginaw Valley State University graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Bluffton University and Saginaw Valley State University graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Bluffton University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saginaw Valley State University students, three years after graduation (67% vs. 48%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.