Institutional Accreditation
Saginaw Valley State University was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association as a baccalaureate degree granting institution in 1970. In 1980 the HLC/NCA continued this accreditation and granted accreditation at the master’s degree level. Both accreditations have been retained continuously since the original accreditation.
Special Designation
A tradition of involving students in research, fieldwork and service learning has earned Saginaw Valley State University the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement (CE) Classification by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education. This elective designation marks SVSU as a university that is exceptionally engaged with the community it serves. SVSU first applied for and earned the 10-year Community Engagement Classification in 2015.
Specialized Accreditations
Saginaw Valley State University has ten programs that have been awarded specialized accreditations.
- SVSU's business programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- SVSU's chemistry program is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS)
- SVSU's electrical engineering program and mechanical engineering program are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
- SVSU's education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the Michigan Department of Education.
- SVSU's nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- SVSU's occupational therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
- SVSU's exercise science program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- SVSU's medical laboratory science program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
- SVSU's social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- SVSU is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)