Home
Colleges
Michigan
Ferris State University

Public Graduate Strong 71/100

Ferris State University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

Compare This College

Big Rapids, Michigan

About Ferris State University

Ferris State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Big Rapids, Michigan. It enrolls 8,106 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: ferris.edu

Acceptance: 91.4%
Graduation: 51.6%
Net Price: $8,624
Median Earnings (10yr): $54,735
Enrollment: 8,106
Student : Faculty: 15:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

71/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 36

Value 96

Affordability 74

Selectivity 22

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 91.4%, Ferris State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

91.4%

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

890 – 1120

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

20 – 24

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Ferris State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Getting more selective ↓ 6.1 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Ferris State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $8,624 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$8,624

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

34%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

43%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $14,778
Room & Board (on-campus): $11,462
Room & Board (off-campus): $9,036
Books & Supplies: $890
Other Expenses (on-campus): $2,492
Other Expenses (off-campus): $2,816
Total Cost of Attendance: $27,048

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$2,556
$30,001 – $48,000

$4,315
$48,001 – $75,000

$7,638
$75,001 – $110,000

$12,485
Over $110,000

$18,603

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,750

10% percentile

$7,500

25% percentile

$21,000

Median percentile

$28,000

75% percentile

$37,405

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $17,248 ↓ $3,752

No Pell $13,849 ↓ $7,151

Dependent students $15,000 ↓ $6,000

Independent students $18,247 ↓ $2,753

Female students $16,034 ↓ $4,966

Male students $15,000 ↓ $6,000

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,373, less than completers ($21,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

52% of full-time students who enrolled at Ferris State University graduate within six years, and 75% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

52%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

75%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Ferris State University earn a median of $54,735 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$54,735

Earning > $25K

80%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$42,100

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$56,000

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$46,000

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$48,300

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$52,800

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $13,900, about 25% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 17.3 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Ferris State University is home to 8,106 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

8,106

Part-Time

19%

First-Generation

35%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 72.7% 5,892

Black 10.4% 840

Hispanic 7.1% 578

Other 3.6% 293

Asian 1.7% 136

International 1.2% 94

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Ferris State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Town: Remote Big Rapids, Michigan

Housing

Partly residential 3,230 beds available

Adult Learners

15% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Ferris State University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 115 distinct programs across 27 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

22 Programs

Health

Pharmacy $117K ($79K–$140K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Health Professions $68K ($48K–$89K)

15 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Construction Management $95K ($77K–$115K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

13 Programs

Engineering Tech

Industrial Production Tech $81K ($61K–$99K)
Mechanical Engineering Tech $82K ($67K–$99K)
Construction Engineering Tech $94K ($77K–$112K)

3 Programs

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)

7 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Design $51K ($33K–$71K)
Arts Therapy $48K ($32K–$65K)
Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)

9 Programs

Computer Science

IT Administration $85K ($59K–$118K)
Information Systems $92K ($64K–$128K)
IT Administration $85K ($59K–$118K)

3 Programs

Communications Tech

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Ferris State University is 15:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

15:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$11,158

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$120M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$93,698

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

474 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	186	39%	$113,932
Associate Professors	141	30%	$93,401
Assistant Professors	64	14%	$77,141
Instructors	6	1%	$45,809
No Rank	77	16%	$52,035

Pros & Cons of Ferris State University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Ferris State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings

CONS

Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention

Best for: Based on the data, Ferris State University is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ferris State University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Ferris State University.

Is Ferris State University hard to get into?

Ferris State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 91.4%.

What is the acceptance rate at Ferris State University?

Ferris State University has an acceptance rate of 91.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Ferris State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Ferris State University scored between 890 and 1120 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Ferris State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Ferris State University scored between 20 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Ferris State University cost?

The average net price after aid at Ferris State University is $8,624 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Ferris State University worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,735 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,624 per year. That's roughly 6.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Ferris State University known for?

Ferris State University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Pharmacy. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Ferris State University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Ferris State University are $54,735, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Ferris State University accredited?

Yes. Ferris State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Ferris State University?

Ferris State University enrolls 8,106 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Ferris State University?

Ferris State University graduates 52% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Ferris State University a public or private college?

Ferris State University is a Public institution.

Where is Ferris State University located?

Ferris State University is located in Big Rapids, Michigan.

What programs does Ferris State University offer?

Ferris State University offers 115 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Pharmacy.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Ferris State University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Ferris State University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.