Saginaw Valley State University vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Merced is larger than Saginaw Valley State University based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 6,822 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saginaw Valley State University is located in University Center, MI (Rural Fringe setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Saginaw Valley State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saginaw Valley State University 16:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saginaw Valley State University are 42.5% lower than at University of California Merced ($12,340 vs. $21,445).
• Out-of-state tuition is 63.6% higher at UC Merced than at Saginaw Valley State University (about $19,373 more per year; $49,823 vs. $30,450).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saginaw Valley State University than at University of California Merced (98% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 102% larger than aid received by Saginaw Valley State University students ($27,292 vs. $13,512).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Saginaw Valley State University than at UC Merced (22 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Saginaw Valley State University, test-free at UC Merced.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UC Merced average a 3.55 high school GPA, 0.07 higher than at Saginaw Valley State University (3.48).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16% at Saginaw Valley State University vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $7,101 lower median loan debt than Saginaw Valley State University graduates ($19,899 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.