More selective than 15% of Michigan colleges we cover.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $27,048. College Scorecard.
Higher than 27% of Michigan colleges we cover and 36% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median 54%.
Within 6 years · College Scorecard
Higher than 56% of Michigan colleges we cover and 55% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median $53,263.
Median, 10 years after starting · College Scorecard
Ferris State University acceptance rate & admissions
Of 9,548 applicants, Ferris State University admitted 7,694 and 1,595 enrolled (IPEDS, Fall 2023 entering class). The middle half of enrolled first-year students scored 890–1120 on the SAT or 20–24 on the ACT.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Test scores: College Scorecard, Fall 2024. Other figures: College Scorecard; IPEDS
Ferris State University tuition, cost & net price
What families actually pay per year, by income
Average net price after grants and scholarships for Michigan residents who receive federal aid. Tap your income band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year (in-state, federal aid recipients)
Sticker price (before aid)
IPEDS 2023-24 cost items; total from College Scorecard
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
What Ferris State University costs to finish, and how fast it pays back
Graduates of Ferris State University took 4.5 years on average to finish, so the yearly price adds up to the total below. Payback compares former students' earnings with what high school graduates earn in Michigan. The figures follow your residency and income choices above.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $2,556 | $11,476 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $4,315 | $19,374 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $7,638 | $34,295 | 1.6 years |
| $75–110k | $12,485 | $56,058 | 2.6 years |
| $110k+ | $18,603 | $83,527 | 3.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (31% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of former students 10 years after starting ($54,735) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $21,324 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard (net price, earnings); IPEDS Graduation Rates (time to finish); U.S. Census Bureau ACS (high school earnings). Calculated by EducationGuide.
Ferris State University majors, earnings & careers
Ferris State University offers 61 bachelor's majors across 11 areas. Earnings below are for this school's graduates of each major, four years after finishing.
- Business & Finance · 11
- Engineering · 8
- Health & Medicine · 8
- Science & Math · 7
- Social Sciences & Public Service · 7
- Technology & Computing · 5
- Arts & Design · 4
- Communications & Media · 4
- Humanities & Languages · 4
- Education · 2
- Trades & Applied Technology · 1
Highest-earning majors at Ferris State University
| Major | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Med / Pre-Health | $118,364 | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies / Technicians | $91,993 | $24,250 |
| Information Technology | $91,678 | $27,000 |
| Construction Management | $90,504 | $20,750 |
| Energy Systems Technologies / Technicians | $88,670 | $20,308 |
| Electrical / Electronic Engineering Technologies / Technicians | $86,348 | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $85,131 | $27,813 |
| Surveying Engineering | $84,958 | — |
Quick list of all 61 majors
- Accounting$53,742
- Allied Health (Imaging / Therapy / Tech)$76,031
- Applied Mathematics—
- Architectural Engineering Technologies / Technicians$54,031
- Arts and Entertainment Management$48,367
- Audiovisual Communications Technologies / Technicians$43,507
- Biochemistry—
- Biology$56,878
- Biotechnology—
- Business Administration$64,131
- Chemistry—
- Communications Technologies / Technicians and Support Services, Other—
- Computer and Information Sciences$85,131
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other—
- Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications—
- Construction Management$90,504
- Criminal Justice$60,325
- Data Analytics—
- Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$63,582
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology—
- Economics—
- Education (Elementary / Secondary)$45,053
- Education (Subject Teaching)$51,484
- Electrical / Electronic Engineering Technologies / Technicians$86,348
- Energy Systems Technologies / Technicians$88,670
- Film and Photography—
- Finance$75,797
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design$50,658
- Graphic Communications$44,116
- Health Administration$56,774
- Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other$62,718
- Heavy / Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies / Technicians$83,528
- History—
- Hospitality Management$49,983
- Human Development and Family Studies$45,052
- Human Resources$66,054
- Industrial Production Technologies / Technicians$91,993
- Information Technology$91,678
- Insurance—
- Liberal Arts / General Studies$54,837
- Management Science / Analytics—
- Manufacturing Engineering$80,996
- Marketing$66,023
- Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies / Technicians$82,821
- Medical Laboratory Science$64,703
- Nursing$81,718
- Physiology—
- Political Science—
- Pre-Med / Pre-Health$118,364
- Psychology$49,596
- Public Health—
- Public Relations and Advertising$51,396
- Social Sciences, Other—
- Social Work$53,351
- Sociology—
- Spanish / French / Romance Languages—
- Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations$61,884
- Studio Art$39,165
- Surveying Engineering$84,958
- Systems Engineering—
- Writing$47,823
— means too few graduates to report earnings.
College Scorecard field of study, latest release
All majors by area with earnings 1 and 4 years out, and debt →Criminal Justice → Police officer
Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Business Administration → Management analyst
Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to grow 10.1% from 2025 to 2035.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Living in Big Rapids
2 bedrooms $1,063.
HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027
January and July average highs. 38 inches of rain a year, 61 inches of snow.
NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
Highest: winter weather (relatively high).
FEMA National Risk Index, Mecosta County
Campus & students
IPEDS fall enrollment; Carnegie Classification; EADA via Urban Institute
Mecosta County at a glance
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2024
Compare Ferris State University with similar schools
Similar public colleges in Michigan by selectivity, graduation rate and size. Tap “Why?” to see where the price difference comes from.
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferris State University | 91% | $8,624 | 47% | $54,735 | This school |
| Northern Michigan University | 84% | $14,085 | 52% | $47,107 | |
| Central Michigan University | 90% | $17,597 | 59% | $55,874 | |
| Eastern Michigan University | 80% | $15,407 | 46% | $51,793 | |
| Michigan Technological University | 92% | $14,182 | 68% | $78,198 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Ferris State University would cost you $5,461 less per year than Northern Michigan University, on average.
- Lower sticker price at Ferris State University, mostly from lower housing & meal costs (−$2,092).
- Ferris State University gives aided families $4,668 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Michigan resident | Ferris State University | Northern Michigan University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $14,778 | $14,277 | +$501 |
| Books & supplies | $862 | $720 | +$142 |
| Housing & meals | $10,660 | $12,752 | −$2,092 |
| Personal & travel | $2,564 | $2,148 | +$416 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$1,816 | −$2,056 | +$240 |
| Sticker price | $27,048 | $27,841 | −$793 |
| Average grants | −$18,424 | −$13,756 | −$4,668 |
| You pay | $8,624 | $14,085 | −$5,461 |
“+” means Ferris State University costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
Common questions about Ferris State University
What is the Ferris State University acceptance rate?
Ferris State University accepts 91% of applicants (College Scorecard). In the latest IPEDS admissions year, 7,694 of 9,548 applicants were admitted. The middle half of enrolled first-year students scored 890–1120 on the SAT or 20–24 on the ACT.
How much does Ferris State University cost per year?
The sticker price (cost of attendance) is $27,048 a year for in-state students. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $8,624 a year on average; families earning $0–30k pay $2,556 and families earning $110k+ pay $18,603.
How much do Ferris State University graduates earn?
Former Ferris State University students earn a median $54,735 ten years after starting college, compared with a U.S. median of $53,263 across the colleges we cover.
What is the Ferris State University graduation rate?
47% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year.
How long does a Ferris State University degree take to pay off?
For a family earning $48–75k, finishing at Ferris State University costs about $34,295 after grants ($7,638 a year for 4.5 years, the average time graduates took). Former students earn a median $54,735 ten years after starting, $21,324 more than high school graduates in Michigan ($33,411), so the cost is repaid in 1.6 years of that gain, before taxes and interest (EducationGuide calculation).
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Sources on this page: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; U.S. Census Bureau (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, Employment Projections); Bureau of Economic Analysis; HUD; NOAA; FEMA; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By); Wikidata. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Averages are not quotes; confirm costs with the school. How we score
Data: download this school's data (JSON) · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Ferris State University: cost, admissions and outcomes,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/ferris-state-university (College Scorecard and IPEDS data).