Head-to-head comparison
Saginaw Valley State University vs Andrews University: which has better ROI?
Option A University Center, MI
Saginaw Valley State University
- Net price / year
- $10,775
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,955
- Payback
- 12 yrs
Option B Berrien Springs, MI
Andrews University
- Net price / year
- $12,547
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,187
- Payback
- 10.4 yrs
Andrews University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $50,188 in 10.4 years versus 12 years at Saginaw Valley State University, on median earnings of $53,187 vs $51,955 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saginaw Valley State University | Andrews University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,775 | $12,547 |
| Total net cost | $43,100 | $50,188 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,955 | $53,187 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 12 yrs | 10.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $28,800 | $46,352 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Saginaw Valley State University or Andrews University?
Saginaw Valley State University, at $10,775 a year after aid versus $12,547 — a gap of $1,772 a year, or $7,088 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Saginaw Valley State University or Andrews University graduates earn more?
Andrews University graduates report a median $53,187 ten years after entry, $1,232 more than the $51,955 at Saginaw Valley State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Saginaw Valley State University or Andrews University?
Saginaw Valley State University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Andrews University, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
72% of students finish at Andrews University, against 48% at Saginaw Valley State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.