Head-to-head comparison
Wayne State University vs Saginaw Valley State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Detroit, MI
Wayne State University
- Net price / year
- $12,766
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,493
- Payback
- 9.9 yrs
Option B University Center, MI
Saginaw Valley State University
- Net price / year
- $10,775
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,955
- Payback
- 12 yrs
Wayne State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $51,064 in 9.9 years versus 12 years at Saginaw Valley State University, on median earnings of $53,493 vs $51,955 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wayne State University | Saginaw Valley State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,766 | $10,775 |
| Total net cost | $51,064 | $43,100 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,493 | $51,955 |
| Median debt | $21,250 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 9.9 yrs | 12 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $51,596 | $28,800 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wayne State University or Saginaw Valley State University?
Saginaw Valley State University, at $10,775 a year after aid versus $12,766 — a gap of $1,991 a year, or $7,964 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 Wayne State University or Saginaw Valley State University graduates earn more?
Wayne State University graduates report a median $53,493 ten years after entry, $1,538 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, Wayne State University or Saginaw Valley State University?
Wayne State University: its completers carry a median $21,250 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Saginaw Valley State University, a difference of $3,750. 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?
58% of students finish at Wayne State 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.