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Big Rapids, MI · University Center, MI
| Ferris State University | Saginaw Valley State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $8,624/yr | $10,775/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $2,556/yr | $9,844/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $21,000 | $25,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $4,315/yr | $19,711/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $7,638/yr | $20,053/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $12,485/yr | $18,879/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $18,603/yr | $24,103/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $223/mo | $265/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $11,462/yr | $12,340/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $9,036/yr | $12,340/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $890/yr | $1,160/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,492/yr | $1,260/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $27,048/yr | $24,936/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $14,778/yr | $12,930/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $14,778/yr | $30,450/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 34% | 35% |
| Students taking federal loans | 43% | 50% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 91% | 72% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 890–1120 | 920–1170 |
| SAT average | 1012 | 1052 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 20–24 | 18–26 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 17–25 · Math 20–25 | English 19–25 · Math 17–26 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 9,548 | 10,222 |
| Students accepted | 7,694 | 7,450 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,595 | 1,292 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 21% | 17% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 66% | 85% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 1% | 3% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Demonstrated competencies | Required | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Other admission tests | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 47% | 48% |
| Freshmen who come back | 78% | 78% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $54,735/yr | $51,955/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $34,587–$80,060 | $33,539–$73,802 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 60% | 54% |
| White students graduating | 52% | 52% |
| Black students graduating | 22% | 26% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 33% | 42% |
| Asian students graduating | 61% | 22% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $47,339/yr | $43,530/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 75% | 70% |
| Graduate on time | 33% | 19% |
| Pell students who graduate | 34% | 38% |
| First-gen students who finish | 49% | 37% |
| Low-income students who finish | 44% | 32% |
| Students who transfer out | 8% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $52,215/yr | $47,805/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 19% · Engineering Technologies 17% · Health Professions 16% | Health Professions 19% · Business, Management & Marketing 19% · Education 13% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 19% of degrees | Health Professions — 19% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Engineering Technologies — 17% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 19% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Health Professions — 16% of degrees | Education — 13% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 7% of degrees | Psychology — 5% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 5% of degrees | Engineering — 5% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration — $113,856/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $106,840/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 25% | 14% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 8,106 | 5,989 |
| Students per professor | 15 : 1 | 16 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 968 | 687 |
| Average professor pay | $10,752/mo | $9,515/mo |
| Full-time professors | 71% | 42% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $41,668 | $52,670 |
| Setting | Town (remote) | Suburb (midsize) |
| Location | Big Rapids, MI | University Center, MI |
| Region | Great Lakes | Great Lakes |
| Founded | 1884 | 1963 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral/Professional Universities | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1.2% | 2.7% |
| Men | 46% | 37% |
| Women | 54% | 63% |
| White students | 73% | 76% |
| Black students | 10% | 8.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 7.1% | 6% |
| Asian students | 1.7% | 1.3% |
| Two or more races | 2.7% | 3.9% |
| Other / not reported | 4.3% | 2.1% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 35% | 33% |
| Part-time students | 19% | 12% |
| Students age 25+ | 15% | 11% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $9,659/yr | $9,060/yr |
| Endowment | $127.5M | $110.0M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 3,230 | 2,413 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $5,652/yr | $5,130/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,008/yr | $4,470/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | Yes | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | Other | NCAA Division II with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 13 | 16 |
| Student athletes | 388 | 532 |
| Athletic scholarships | $3.0M | $3.6M |
| Athletics budget | $13.9M | $11.8M |
| Athletics revenue | $13.9M | $11.8M |
| Recruiting spend | $54,202 | $84,942 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.