Ferris State University

www.ferris.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$14,582

3.13% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$10,825

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

91.4%

12,460 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

9,959

72.8% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

55.8%

320 Graduates

About

Ferris State University is a higher education institution located in Mecosta County, MI. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Ferris State University were General Business Administration & Management (143 degrees awarded), Criminal Justice - Police Science (140 degrees), and Registered Nursing (93 degrees).

In 2024, 2,982 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Ferris State University. 52.1% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 47.9% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,365 degrees), 13.7 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (173 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Ferris State University is $14,582, which is $−17,338 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Ferris State University is $14,582, which is $17,338 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $10,825.

In 2024, 74% of undergraduate students attending Ferris State University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 43% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$14,582

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Ferris State University was $14,582. The cost of tuition at Ferris State University is $−17,338 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Ferris State University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$10,825

2024 Value

17.7%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Ferris State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $10,825. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Ferris State University grew by 17.7%.

This chart compares the average net price of Ferris State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$9,680

Room and Board

$862

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Ferris State University was of $9,680 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 3.45% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $862. The cost of books and supplies increased by 3.11% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Ferris State University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

74%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

43%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

74% of undergraduate students at Ferris State University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2023, when 74% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Ferris State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

Ferris State University received 12,460 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 30.5% annual growth. Out of those 12,460 applicants, 11,387 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 91.4% acceptance rate.

There were 9,959 students enrolled at Ferris State University in 2024. 65% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Ferris State University has an overall enrollment yield of 14.7%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

91.4%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

11,387

Accepted Out of 12,460

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Ferris State University was 91.4% (11,387 admissions from 12,460 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 80.6%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants grew by 30.5%, while admissions grew by 48%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Ferris State University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

65%

Submission Percentage (2024)

1,097

Scores Submitted (2024)

65% of enrolled first-time students at Ferris State University in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Ferris State University had a total enrollment of 9,959 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Ferris State University is 7,251 students and the part-time enrollment is 2,708. This means that 72.8% of students enrolled at Ferris State University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Ferris State University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 72.9% White, 9.49% Black or African American, 6.61% Hispanic or Latino, 2.54% Two or More Races, 1.82% Asian, 0.884% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0502% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Ferris State University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (38.7%), followed by White Male (34.9%) and Black or African American Female (5.77%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (39.2%), followed by White Male (22.1%) and Black or African American Female (2.53%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

72.8%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Ferris State University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 9,959 students. The full-time enrollment at Ferris State University is 7,251 and the part-time enrollment is 2,708. This means that 72.8% of students enrolled at Ferris State University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Ferris State University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

78%

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. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Ferris State University was 78%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), Ferris State University had a retention rate lower than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Ferris State University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
7,256 enrolled students
Black or African American
945 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
658 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Ferris State University is 72.9% White, 9.49% Black or African American, 6.61% Hispanic or Latino, 2.54% Two or More Races, 1.82% Asian, 0.884% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0502% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 432 students (4.34%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 124 more women than men received degrees from Ferris State University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Ferris State University is white (2,365 degrees awarded). There were 13.7 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (173 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Ferris State University is General Business Administration & Management (143 degrees awarded), followed by Criminal Justice - Police Science (140 degrees) and Registered Nursing (93 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Ferris State University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Communication Technologies (106 degrees awarded), Engineering Technologies (471 degrees), and Protective Services (246 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Social workers, all other

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Ferris State University are Social workers, all other (169,112 people), Police officers (138,192 people), Other managers (110,080 people), Software developers (48,483 people), and Elementary & middle school teachers (46,158 people).

The most specialized majors at Ferris State University in 2024 are Communication Technologies (106 degrees awarded), Engineering Technologies (471 degrees), Protective Services (246 degrees), Science Technologies (11 degrees), and Precision Production (88 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Agents & business managers of artists, performers, & athletes

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Ferris State University are Agents & business managers of artists, performers, & athletes, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Surgeons, Physicians, and Actuaries

The most specialized majors at Ferris State University are Communication Technologies (106 degrees awarded), Engineering Technologies (471 degrees), Protective Services (246 degrees), Science Technologies (11 degrees), and Precision Production (88 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Justice, public order, & safety activities

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Ferris State University are Justice, public order, & safety activities (331,235 people), Elementary & secondary schools (159,771 people), Individual & family services (121,524 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (100,911 people), and Computer Systems Design (82,144 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Ferris State University.

Most Common (2024)

Criminal Justice - Police Science
67 degrees awarded
Welding Technology
51 degrees awarded
Pre-Pharmacy Studies
50 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common associates degree concentration at Ferris State University was Criminal Justice - Police Science with 67 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from associates degree programs at Ferris State University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

1,429

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

1,553

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 1,429 degrees were awarded to men at Ferris State University, which is 0.92 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,553).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Ferris State University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 115 degrees were awarded to men at Ferris State University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.26 times more than the 91 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 120 degrees were awarded to men at Ferris State University in Criminal Justice - Police Science, which is 1.38 times more than the 87 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

34%

100% Completion Time

57%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 34% of students graduating from Ferris State University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 57% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 58% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
2,365 degrees awarded
Black or African American
173 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
166 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Ferris State University is white (2,365 degrees awarded). There were 13.7 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (173 degrees).

3.02% of degree recipients (90 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Male
1,753 degrees awarded
White Female
1,742 degrees awarded
White Male
1,728 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Ferris State University is white male (1,753 degrees awarded). There were 1.01 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (1,742 degrees).

Operations

Ferris State University has an endowment valued at nearly $127M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 20.3M (15.9%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2024, Ferris State University had a total salary expenditure of 227M. Ferris State University employs 204 Professors, 117 Associate professors and 66 Assistant professors. Most academics at Ferris State University are Male Professor (112), Female Professor (92), and Male Associate professor (68).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Ferris State University are: Service, with 176 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 134 employees, and Management with 127 employees.

Endowment

$127M

2024 Endowment

6.5%

growth from 2023

Ferris State University has an endowment valued at about $127M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Ferris State University grew 6.5% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $125M lower than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Ferris State University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$118M

2024 Salaries

3.72%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Ferris State University paid a median of $118M in salaries, which represents 51.8% of their overall expenditure ($227M) and a 3.72% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 2.17% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 4.97% decline between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$45.9M

Instructional Salaries

451

Number of Employees

In 2024, Ferris State University paid a total of $45.9M to 451 employees working as instructors, which represents 38.9% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Ferris State University were Service with 176 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 134 employees, and Management with 127 employees.

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