About Ferris State University
Ferris State University has more than 14,000
students enrolled in classes on its main campus in Big Rapids, 19 off-campus
sites throughout Michigan and at Ferris’ Kendall College of Art and Design in
Grand Rapids. By offering people what they want, when and where they need it,
Ferris is Michigan's "statewide university," with a transfer rate
higher than any other university in Michigan, facilitated by the ease of
“laddering” from a two-year to a four-year degree.
Ferris is distinguished by its strong heritage of
opportunity and career-oriented approach to education where theory meets
practice, along with unique degrees that are not available at other
universities in the state, region or nation. More than 180 programs, ranging
from associate to doctoral degrees, are offered through eight degree-granting
colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Services,
Engineering Technology, Health Professions, Kendall College of Art and Design,
Michigan College of Optometry, and Pharmacy.
The majority of Ferris' offerings are tailored
with a specific occupation in mind and align directly with many occupations
that are expected to experience growth across the country through 2016. The
University has at least 140 degrees that align directly with in-demand
occupations in the categories of business, finance and management;
administrative and clerical; computer science and engineering; social service;
education and training; health care practitioners; health care technology and
support; protective service; and construction, production and repair.
Ferris has the fewest number of large classes
among Michigan’s 15 public universities, with only 1 percent of classes having
more than 50 students. This allows for more direct contact with faculty, more
hands-on learning and experimentation and greater student engagement. More than
50 percent of Ferris classes have fewer than 20 students, and the
student-to-faculty ratio is 16-to-1. Full-time tenure-track faculty with
experience in their respective fields teach the majority of classes, providing
real-world relevancy to the learning environment. Advisory boards also
contribute to ensuring current and relevant curriculum is taught which produces
graduates with hands-on skills that allow them to be productive employees from
the first day of employment.
More than any institution in the state, Ferris
State has reached out to Michigan community colleges creating partnerships on
19 campuses and expanding online offerings. Ferris enrolls the largest number
of off-campus students at the Applied Technology Center through its partnership
with Grand Rapids Community College.
The completion of a new facility to house Ferris’
Michigan College of Optometry, new student housing, classroom renovations and
improvements to Ferris’ largest dining facility add to the vibrancy of the
University’s 880-acre campus, which already boasts FLITE, a state-of-the-art
library; the Granger Center, a building with visible mechanical systems, such
as geothermal heating and cooling, for HVACR students; and the National
Elastomer Center, a specialized center for studying plastics and rubber
technology.
Ferris is the only university in Michigan named
after its founders, Woodbridge Nathan Ferris (two-term Michigan governor and
U.S. senator) and Helen Gillespie Ferris. It was founded in 1884 as the
privately-owned Big Rapids Industrial School and provided opportunity for
people who might otherwise have become lumberjacks, farm laborers and food
processing workers, instead offering paths to lives of greater possibility.
Ferris did not become a state institution until 1950, undergoing several name
changes until becoming Ferris State University in 1987. The Ferris philosophy
of a practical, hands-on approach to education that enables students to learn
practical skills for new jobs in a changing world still resonates today.
How Can Ferris Help You?
Opportunities at Ferris
Are you looking for a unique academic program or an engaging professional internship experience? Do you want an education that builds on your special talents and strengths?
Ferris personalizes your experience, providing you with excellent academic resources, dynamic professional opportunities and student services that fit your individual needs.
Be a Bulldog
- Apply to Ferris for free using our Online Admissions Form
- Find out when a Ferris representative will visit your area
- Schedule a campus visit
- Explore opportunities at Ferris’ 18 statewide locations and online
- Discover tuition, scholarships and financial aid opportunities
- Look up current course offerings
- Transfer credits
- Learn more about the Big Rapids area
- Check out our Alumni Success Stories
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