by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Saginaw Valley State University first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at Saginaw Valley State University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 78% students making it past their freshmen year, Saginaw Valley State University has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Michigan, the average is 70.80%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Saginaw Valley State University | 78% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
There were approximately 1155 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 29% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 51% of the students had graduated and after eight years 54% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical Saginaw Valley State University graduation rate 51%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 648 | 29% |
| Six Years | 1155 | 51% |
| Eight Years | 64 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1033 | 46% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 1033 students or 46% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1033 students who did not complete their degree?
7 are still enrolled.
657 transferred to another institution.
Saginaw Valley State University lost contact with the remaining 355 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 657 | 63.6% |
| Dropped Out | 355 | 34.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 55% |
| Black / African-American | 28% |
| Hispanic | 55% |
| International | 38% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 54% |
| Unknown | 48% |
| White | 58% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
The majority of students at Saginaw Valley State University are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Saginaw Valley State University represent 62.41% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Saginaw Valley State University graduation rate was 49%, and by the eight year mark, 53% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Saginaw Valley State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 49% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 47.82% |
664 first-time / full-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
423 transferred to another institution.
Saginaw Valley State University lost contact with the remaining 231 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.51% |
| Transferred | 423 | 63.70% |
| Dropped Out | 231 | 34.79% |
First-time / part-time students at Saginaw Valley State University represent 0.75% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Saginaw Valley State University graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 35% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Saginaw Valley State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 29% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 23.72% |
11 first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
Saginaw Valley State University lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 9 | 81.82% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 18.18% |
Returning / full-time students at Saginaw Valley State University represent 28.58% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Saginaw Valley State University graduation rate was 59%, and by the eight year mark, 61% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Saginaw Valley State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 59% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 55.07% |
250 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
157 transferred to another institution.
Saginaw Valley State University lost contact with the remaining 86 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.80% |
| Transferred | 157 | 62.80% |
| Dropped Out | 86 | 34.40% |
Returning / part-time students at Saginaw Valley State University represent 8.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Saginaw Valley State University graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 42% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Saginaw Valley State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 42% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
108 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
68 transferred to another institution.
Saginaw Valley State University lost contact with the remaining 36 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 3.70% |
| Transferred | 68 | 62.96% |
| Dropped Out | 36 | 33.33% |
