Ferris State University
Ferris State University is a public college or university in Big Rapids, MI, with about 127 programs reporting completions in the federal extract used on this page. It reports a completion rate of about 46.87% for the cohort window published by the Education Department—one yardstick, not the whole story of student success.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $14,778
- 2024 Average Net Price: $8,624 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 91.39% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 8,106 80.9% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 46.87%
- Average SAT Score: 1012
Ferris State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Ferris State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Ferris State University?
Ferris State University is located in Big Rapids, MI (ZIP 49307-2251).
NCES locale classification: Town remote.
Is Ferris State University public or private?
Ferris State University is a Public institution.
How much does Ferris State University cost?
Published tuition: $14,778.
Average net price after aid: $8,624.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $2,556 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $4,315 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $7,638 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $12,485 |
| $110,001+ | $18,603 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $59,112.
How hard is it to get into Ferris State University?
Admission rate: 91.39%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1012 and midpoint ACT 23.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Ferris State University?
Total enrollment: 8,106 students.
About 81% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Ferris State University?
150%-time completion rate: 46.87%.
First-year retention: 77.6%.
What do graduates of Ferris State University earn?
Median earnings: $47,339 six years after entry; $54,735 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $21,000.
34.23% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Ferris State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (2,982 completions)
- Criminal Justice - Police Science (207 completions)
- CIP 520201 (206 completions)
- Social Work (107 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (93 completions)
- CIP 240102 (90 completions)
- CIP 512001 (88 completions)
- CIP 150805 (85 completions)
- CIP 519999 (77 completions)
- Communications Technology - 10.0304 (70 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Ferris State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 91.39%; completion rate 46.87%; median earnings $54,735 at 10 years; net price $8,624. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$14,778
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Ferris State University was $14,778.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$8,624
2024 Value
In 2024 Ferris State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $8,624.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$34,496 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$8,624 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$59,112 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Ferris State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
34.23% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
43.36% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Ferris State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Ferris State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $10,466 | $16,722 | $14,010 |
| 2014 | $10,677 | $16,467 | $13,230 |
| 2015 | $10,970 | $17,562 | $13,306 |
| 2016 | $11,290 | $18,048 | $13,136 |
| 2017 | $11,628 | $18,588 | $12,949 |
| 2018 | $11,788 | $11,788 | $13,008 |
| 2019 | $12,068 | $12,068 | $12,889 |
| 2020 | $12,376 | $12,376 | $12,213 |
| 2021 | $12,740 | $12,740 | $13,010 |
| 2022 | $13,076 | $13,076 | $12,812 |
| 2023 | $13,630 | $13,630 | $12,202 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
91.39% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1012
ACT Average: 23
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
80.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Ferris State University in 2024 is 8,106 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
77.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
33.16% 100% Completion Time
46.87% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 33.16% of students graduating from Ferris State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Ferris State University.
Return on Investment
$21,000 Median Student Debt
$54,735 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
38.37% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1486.71% Return on Investment
3.8 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Ferris State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Criminal Justice - Police Science: 207 completions
CIP 52.0201: 206 completions
Social Work: 107 completions
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 93 completions
CIP 24.0102: 90 completions
CIP 51.2001: 88 completions
CIP 15.0805: 85 completions
CIP 51.9999: 77 completions
Communications Technology - 10.0304: 70 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 2,982 completions
Most popular programs at Ferris State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Ferris State University graduates.
About
Ferris State University is a public institution located in Big Rapids, MI, offering 127 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 8,106 students. The admission rate is 91.39%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1012. The institution maintains a 46.87% graduation rate. Approximately 34.23% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
Big Rapids, MI 49307-2251
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 127 distinct degree programs, Ferris State University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Ferris State University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $14,778 and average net price is $8,624 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Ferris State University?
The admission rate is 91.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Ferris State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Ferris State University reports midpoint SAT about 1012 and midpoint ACT about 23.
What do graduates of Ferris State University earn?
Median earnings are $47,339 six years after entry and $54,735 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Ferris State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 46.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Ferris State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,000.
How big is Ferris State University?
Total enrollment is about 8,106 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Ferris State University public or private?
Ferris State University is a public institution located in Big Rapids, MI.
Is Ferris State University an HBCU?
No. Ferris State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Ferris State University a tribal college?
No. Ferris State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Ferris State University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Ferris State University does not meet that proxy (reported share 7.1%).
Is Ferris State University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Ferris State University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.