Ferris State University — College Profile

About

Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, is renowned for its practical, career-focused education with particularly strong programs in engineering technology, business, pharmacy, and criminal justice. The university distinguishes itself by housing the state's only optometry school—the Michigan College of Optometry—and offering unique, highly specialized majors such as plastics engineering technology and PGA golf management. Student life is grounded and community-minded, characterized by active campus involvement, outdoor recreation along the nearby Muskegon River, and enthusiastic support for the championship Bulldog athletics teams. Additionally, Ferris State's flexible laddered degree structure allows students to seamlessly transition from associate to bachelor's degrees, offering a clear and adaptable pathway to high-demand careers.

Wikipedia:Ferris State University is a public university with its main campus in Big Rapids, Michigan, United States. It was founded in 1884 as Big Rapids Industrial School by Woodbridge N. Ferris and became a public institution in 1950. The university also has a satellite campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Location

Big Rapids, MI, 49307-2251 · Town campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

MKE · Milwaukee

132 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

These figures are federal data and may be out of date.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$14,778$14,778

Housing & food (on campus)$11,462$11,462

Books & supplies$890$890

Cost of attendance$32,222$27,048 est.

Average net price$8,624Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$14,778

Housing & food (on campus)$11,462

Books & supplies$890

Cost of attendance$27,048 est.

In-state: $32,222

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $8,624

est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.ferris.edu

How it’s made up · in-state, 2026-27

Ferris State University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$16,070

Books & supplies$922

Personal expenses$1,860

Transportation$732

Total published by the school$32,222

Source: www.ferris.edu · checked Sep 28, 2026

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$2,556

$30–48k

$4,315

$48–75k

$7,638

$75–110k

$12,485

$110k+

$18,603

Your family's actual price → Ferris State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2025-26

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$4,950

First-years who got one412

Source: Ferris State University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

47%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

33%

Back for yr 2

78%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

55% graduated · 26% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 18% left or unknown

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$47,339

10 yrs after entry$54,735

Debt

Median at graduation$21,000

Monthly payment$223

Middle 50% owe$7.5k–$28k

90th percentile$37,405

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

91%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1012

R 460–570 · M 430–550

ACT midpoint

Comp 20–24 · E 17–25 · M 20–25

SAT middle 50%: 890–1120

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If Ferris State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 46%Women 54%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

15 : 1

Pell grant

34%

First-gen

35%

Family income

$41,668

Independent

28%

Veterans

Age at entry

23.0

Part-time

19%

Race & ethnicity

White

73%

Hispanic

Black

10%

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

AI/AN

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division II w/Football and DI Men's Hockey · EADA 2024-25

Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Ice Hockey
Men's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$47,339

After 10 yrs

$54,735

Business Administration, Management and Operations171

Criminal Justice and Corrections164

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing97

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians86

Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians84

Design and Applied Arts83

Graphic Communications62

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods62

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities62

Biology, General57

Social Work54

Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other54

Construction Management51

Manufacturing Engineering43

Psychology, General42

Accounting and Related Services41

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$127M

Full-time faculty

71%

Faculty salary

$10,752/mo

Teaching spend

$9,659

per student

Federal loans

43%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral/Professional University

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, inclusive admissions