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Accessible2026-2027 admissions cycle

Ferris State University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

With an acceptance rate near 91%, Ferris State University is an accessible public university in Michigan. Because it admits most qualified applicants, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Your odds at Ferris State University
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Ferris State University weighs, where it ranks among Michigan schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1140, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
91%
Accessible
SAT middle 50%
890-1120
of admitted students
Type
Public
Big Rapids, MI
Average net price
$8,624
per year after aid

What do students study at Ferris State University?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Business, Management and Marketing · 343 (20.5%)Engineering Technologies · 246 (14.7%)Health Professions and Related Programs · 223 (13.3%)Homeland Security, Law Enforcement and Firefighting · 159 (9.5%)Visual and Performing Arts · 105 (6.3%)Communications Technologies · 86 (5.1%)Education · 75 (4.5%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 75 (4.5%)Liberal Arts and General Studies · 70 (4.2%)Computer and Information Sciences · 68 (4.1%)Psychology · 44 (2.6%)Public Administration and Social Service · 42 (2.5%)

Will I get into Ferris State University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Ferris State University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Ferris State University?

Ferris State University admits most qualified applicants (around 91%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Ferris State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Ferris State University hard to get into?

Ferris State University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 91% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Ferris State University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Ferris State University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Ferris State University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

Calculate your chances at Ferris State University →

Your chances at Ferris State University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Ferris State University for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Ferris State University with a 3.1 GPA and a 1010 SAT?

About 98% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1010 SAT, the middle of Ferris State University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1120 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Ferris State University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 89025th pctSAT 1010middleSAT 112075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.555%Likely80%Safety92%Safety84%Safety
2.884%Safety94%Safety98%Safety97%Safety
3.196%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety
3.498%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/ferris-state-university.

How to get into Ferris State University

Built from Ferris State University's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

Here is how to get into Ferris State University, built from what its admitted class actually looks like and what the school says it weighs.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Ferris State University carries about a 3.00 core GPA and a 1070 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 890 to 1120 SAT (20 to 24 ACT). Submit a score at 1005 or higher; below 890, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Ferris State University weighs

Ferris State University rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by Ferris State University's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.ferris.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.

See your odds and your top moves at Ferris State University →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.ferris.edu ↗

How many students apply to Ferris State University, and how many get in?

For the fall 2023 entering class, Ferris State University received 9,548 applications and admitted 7,694, an acceptance rate of 80.6%. 1,595 enrolled. Only about 21% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. Ferris State University enrolls about 8,106 undergraduates in total, 54% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1.

Applied
9,548
fall 2023
Admitted
7,694
80.6% of applicants
Enrolled
1,595
21% yield
Undergraduates
8,106
Big Rapids, remote town

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Ferris State University?

Admitted students at Ferris State University post SAT scores of 890 to 1120 in the middle 50%, with an average of 1012. On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 20 to 24. A score above 1120 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 890 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Ferris State University is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.

SAT middle 50%
890-1120
average 1012
ACT middle 50%
20-24
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

What Ferris State University looks for

What Ferris State University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

In its review, Ferris State University leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Ferris State University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Ferris State University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Ferris State University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Above the admitted 75th percentile
1100In the competitive admitted range
Colleges for a 1140 SAT →Colleges for a 23 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Ferris State University cost after financial aid?

The full sticker price at Ferris State University (tuition, fees, housing, food, books) is about $27,048 a year. Tuition and fees alone are $14,778. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $8,624 a year, and it ranges from $2,556 for families earning under $30,000 to $18,603 for families earning over $110,000. 34% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$27,048
per year, before aid
Average net price
$8,624
after grants and scholarships
In-state tuition
$14,778
$14,778 out of state
Pell recipients
34%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$2,556
$30k to $48k$4,315
$48k to $75k$7,638
$75k to $110k$12,485
Over $110k$18,603

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Ferris State University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Median earnings for Ferris State University students ten years after entry are $54,735 ($47,339 at the six-year mark). 47% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 78% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $21,000; 43% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$54,735
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
47%
within six years
Retention
78%
return for year two
Median debt
$21,000
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

How Ferris State University compares in Michigan

Ferris State University ranks #30 most selective of 32 schools in Michigan in our database.

Among the 32 Michigan schools we track, Ferris State University ranks #30 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like University of Michigan (16%) and Hillsdale College (21%) sit nearby, which makes Michigan a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

University of Michigan
16%acceptance · MI
Hillsdale College
21%acceptance · MI
Spring Arbor University
52%acceptance · MI
Lawrence Technological University
56%acceptance · MI
UM Dearborn
56%acceptance · MI
Alma College
57%acceptance · MI
Madonna University
63%acceptance · MI
Northwood University
65%acceptance · MI
See all Michigan schools →

Similar to Ferris State University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Build around Ferris State University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Cal State Fullerton, Cleveland State University, and Eastern Washington University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Cal State Fullerton
91%acceptance · CA
Cleveland State University
91%acceptance · OH
Eastern Washington University
91%acceptance · WA
Missouri State University
91%acceptance · MO
Nicholls State University
91%acceptance · LA
Portland State University
91%acceptance · OR

Frequently asked questions

What is Ferris State University's acceptance rate?

Ferris State University admitted 7,694 of 9,548 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 80.6% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 21% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Ferris State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 890 to 1120 on the SAT and 20 to 24 on the ACT. A score above 1120 is in the top quarter of admits. Ferris State University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Ferris State University test-optional?

Yes. Ferris State University reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.

How much does Ferris State University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Ferris State University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $8,624 a year against a sticker price of about $27,048. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $2,556 on average.

What do Ferris State University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Ferris State University are $54,735 a year among students who received federal aid, and 47% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Ferris State University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Ferris State University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Ferris State University favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Ferris State University generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at Ferris State University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Ferris State University specifically.

How does residency affect admission to Ferris State University?

As a public university, Ferris State University typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.

What are the admission requirements for Ferris State University?

Ferris State University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.