Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI
91.4%
Acceptance Rate
$14,778
Avg Cost (In-State)
$14,778
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
47.4%
Graduation Rate
8,106
Total Enrollment
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
Rolling admissions
Common App
No
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
0
Letters of Rec
0
Interview
Not required
Essays: No essay required for general admission
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$47,339
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$54,735
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
47%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | $44,897 | $60,325 | 421 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $48,535 | $64,131 | 334 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $74,851 | $81,718 | 251 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. | $78,820 | $91,993 | 175 |
| Design and Applied Arts. | $34,045 | $50,658 | 168 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians. | $66,747 | $82,821 | 134 |
| Graphic Communications. | $30,059 | $44,116 | 107 |
| Construction Management. | $73,292 | $90,504 | 86 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Michigan Stamps Scholarship
Full cost of attendance + research stipend
universityDesignated Stamps Scholars (~20/year) at Michigan; nominated through admissions.
Deadline: December 1 (Honors deadline)
Learn more ↗MI Children of Veterans Tuition Grant
Up to $2,800/year
stateChildren of MI veterans killed/disabled in service or POW/MIA.
Deadline: Through MISFA
Learn more ↗Michigan Achievement Scholarship
Up to $5,500/year (publics); $4,000 (independent); $2,750 (CC)
stateMI HS grads with EFC up to $25,000 attending MI colleges. Renewable up to 5 years.
Deadline: FAFSA + apply via MISFA
Learn more ↗Michigan Tuition Incentive Program (TIP)
Covers tuition at MI public CCs + bachelor's transfer support
stateMI Medicaid-eligible students for at least 24 months between ages 9-15.
Deadline: Apply by HS graduation
Learn more ↗Michigan Reconnect
Free CC tuition for adults 21+
stateMI residents 21+ without a college degree; covers in-district tuition at MI community colleges.
Deadline: Year-round
Learn more ↗Michigan State University Distinguished Freshman Scholarship
Full tuition + fees
universityTop MSU incoming freshmen via competitive process; in-state focus.
Deadline: November 1
Learn more ↗MSU Alumni Distinguished Scholarship
Up to full tuition + fees + book stipend
universityTop MSU incoming freshmen via competitive process; combines academics + leadership.
Deadline: November 1
Learn more ↗Chaldean Foundation Education Grant
Varies
localChaldean American students with financial need pursuing higher education; Chaldean Community Foundation-administered.
Deadline: Spring
Learn more ↗MI Indian Tuition Waiver
Full tuition at MI public colleges
state1/4+ blood Native American MI residents (10+ years) at MI public 4-year or community colleges.
Deadline: Apply through college
Learn more ↗Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 91.4% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
91.39%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
34.2%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
35.3%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
18.4%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
77.6%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
46.9%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH
91.3% acceptance
Both admit around 91% of applicants, with 9k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
University Park, PA
91.2% acceptance
Both admit around 91% of applicants, with 8k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI
91.8% acceptance
Both admit around 92% of applicants, with 7k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
81.8% acceptance
Similar selectivity (82% vs 91%) but out-of-state cost runs $9k — meaningfully less than $15k.
Georgia State University-Perimeter College
Atlanta, GA
90.8% acceptance
Similar selectivity (91% vs 91%) but out-of-state cost runs $10k — meaningfully less than $15k.
Austin Community College
Austin, TX
100% acceptance
Similar selectivity (100% vs 91%) but out-of-state cost runs $11k — meaningfully less than $15k.
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