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Saginaw Valley State emphasizes affordability, nursing outcomes and regionally aligned programs
Summary
Saginaw Valley State University told the subcommittee it offers programs aligned with the state's hot jobs, maintains one of the lowest tuition rates among public universities and reported high nursing licensure pass rates and strong graduate retention in Michigan.
Saginaw Valley State University President George Grama told the House Appropriations Subcommittee that SVSU focuses on affordable, workforce‑aligned education and high licensure pass rates that place graduates into state jobs.
Grama said SVSU has about 7,000 students across more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and highlighted that the university offers programs tied to many of Michigan's "hot 50" occupations. He told the committee that SVSU provides programs in 38 of the state's hot jobs, naming nursing, accounting, engineering, teaching and computer science among them.
Grama emphasized outcomes in licensure exams: he said SVSU's nursing graduates achieved a 98.55% first‑time pass rate on the National Council licensure exam in 2024, exceeding national and state averages. He also said SVSU ranked among the top five public universities in Michigan for graduates remaining in the state and that over 50% of first‑year students in 2023–24 received the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.
Grama described partnerships with community colleges to create seamless transfer and accelerated pathways (including ADN to BSN joint pathways) and cited capital projects supported by prior appropriations such as Brown Hall renovations and a planned Lake Huron Environmental Science Research Station. He asked the subcommittee to continue appropriation support to preserve SVSU's low tuition and student aid efforts.
No formal committee action was recorded during SVSU's presentation; Grama answered committee questions and reiterated the university's role in training teachers, nurses and other in‑state professionals.
