Quad

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MIQuad's selectivityOpen
Known forGenerous aidLow average costAverage cost down 41% since 2013–14
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Ferris State admits about 9 in 10 applicants (91%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 19% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

91%

91%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

12,460

Admitted

11,387

Yield

15%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

890–1120

8001600
ACT middle 50%

20–24

1836
Applications +20% since fall 2014 · admit rate 78% → 91%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 8,106 undergrads, where 34% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

8.1K

undergrads · larger than 86% of colleges

Diversity index

0.45

Pell Grant

34%

about the median

First generation

35%

above the median

Remote townNCAA D-II · Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.36 → 0.45 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (10% of graduates). 15 students for every faculty member, more than at 66% of colleges. 71% of faculty are full-time. Spends $9,659 a year on instruction per student.

15 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 66% of colleges

Most popular major

Business Administration and Management, General

10% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Health/Medical Preparatory Programs

$118.4K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

71%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$9.7K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $11,793 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $12.5K less than the national median. The 99% who received grants paid $10,825 on average; the other 1% paid the full sticker price of $27,716.

57%

$11.8K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $12.5K below the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$27,716 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Very generous

grants cover 57% of full price

Federal loans

43%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −41% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $54,735 ten years after enrolling, more than at 53% of colleges; 60% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 0.9 years of that salary.

60%

60%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$54.7K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$21K

≈ $223/month for 10 years

Retention

78%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 43% → 47% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 6% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 41%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 20% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 78% to 91%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −41% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +20%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 78% → 91%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.36 → 0.45

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Pennsylvania Western University

94% admit · SAT 1040 · 7.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Western Kentucky University

94% admit · SAT 945 · 12.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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University of Nebraska at Kearney

89% admit · SAT 1015 · 4.1K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresAlso Midwest
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Wright State University-Main Campus

96% admit · 6.8K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso MidwestAlso public
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    Ferris State University (2026)

    Ferris State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 169910 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything