Ferris State University: Courses, Admission, Cost

Founded in 1884, Ferris State University (Ferris or FSU) is a public institution for research-based higher education in Michigan. It was initially established as the Big Rapids Industrial School. Undergoing several architectural and structural changes, the institution transitioned from a school into a college in the year 1963. The institution became a university in 1987 under its current name and had about 1000 students and 50 staff members. It has academic affiliation from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and sports affiliation from NCAA. It is a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).

The main campus of the university is located in a rural area on the southern edge of the Big Rapids in Michigan. Besides this, Ferris operates 19 satellite campuses at urban locations like Grand Rapids, Dowagiac, Lansing, Traverse City, Flint and University Centre. The 930-acre main campus consists of over 117 buildings, pedestrian walkways and roads, green spaces and parking areas. Ferris proffers on-campus accommodation in residence halls, suites and apartment-style rooms furnished with all-inclusive amenities for utmost comfort and convenience. The on-campus facilities include a health center, pool, climbing wall, weight room, fitness studio, several gyms, lounges, dining points, libraries, and laboratories. An art gallery, a movie theatre, municipal park, several shops and restaurants in downtown Big Rapids are at a small distance from the campus.

Ferris offers over 190 educational programs in its eight colleges. Each of them comprises several departments that focus on different subjects of study. The university renders career-oriented education in arts, science, education, design, human services, health, business, engineering, and technology. Ferris is a vast community of diverse cultures and nationalities with 11,165 students and over 1500 employees. The institution has a professional and highly-knowledgeable academic staff of about 584 instructors and a student-faculty ratio of 16:1.

The Students' Association operates about 200 organizations that focus on various academic, social and personal interests like music, public speaking, sports, and dance. 27 Greek organizations promote cultural unity and cordial relationships between different communities. Besides this, the association also runs a weekly newspaper titled ‘Ferris State Torch’ of about 16 to 28 pages. The university has 14 varsity teams that represent it at various events and competitions under the name Bulldogs.

Ferris possesses a comprehensive list of alumni who are highly successful in their respective professional fields. A few notable names in the list are Shawn Christian (Actor), Monty Brown (Professional Wrestler), John Gruden (Former Ice Hockey Defenseman), Al Jardine (American Musician), Sparky McEwen (Football Coach and Former Player), Gary Waters (Basketball Coach), Dana King (American Journalist and Sculptor) and Jeff Hephner (Actor).