Bachelor's · University Center, Michigan
Is Design and Applied Arts at Saginaw Valley State University worth it?
Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.
The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans
Pays back slowly: graduates typically recover the cost in about 9.8 years.
- Earnings 1 year after graduating
- $34,567
- Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Earnings 4 years after graduating
- $44,967
- Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Typical federal debt at graduation
- $21,250
- NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
- Net cost to graduate, all families
- $53k (likely $52k – $73k)
- AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
- Earnings bump, year 4
- $9k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in MI
- 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Payback
- 9.8 years (likely 5.9–20+)
- Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
- 10-year net return
- −$157k (likely −$236k – −$74k)
- Today's dollars
- 20-year net return
- −$40k (likely −$187k – $144k)
- Today's dollars
- Odds of finishing (school-wide)
- 51%
- Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Change income, residency or loans Compare Design and Applied Arts at other schools
Other majors at Saginaw Valley State University
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's)$113,545
- Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)$90,681
- Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)$90,482
- Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's)$83,873
- Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's)$82,773
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)$81,103
- Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's)$78,259
- Computer Systems Analysis (Bachelor's)$72,888
- Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)$72,171
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's)$70,336
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Bachelor's)$70,081
- Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's)$69,953
Design and Applied Arts at other schools in Michigan
- Lawrence Technological University$99,444
- College for Creative Studies$61,222
- Western Michigan University$58,634
- Central Michigan University$54,254
- Michigan State University$53,250
- Ferris State University$50,658
- Oakland University$47,432
- Adrian College$38,619
- University of Michigan-Flint$34,759
- Eastern Michigan University$34,307