
Ferris State University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it does not mean that every individual degree has the same professional accreditation or meets every state's licensing requirements.
Some Ferris programs also have discipline-specific oversight or accreditation. That distinction is particularly important in fields such as pharmacy, optometry, nursing, and other health professions, where professional standards and licensing rules can affect a graduate's next steps. Applicants to a regulated field should verify the status of the specific program and campus and check the licensing requirements of the state where they intend to practice.
Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid and can matter when seeking to transfer credit. It does not, by itself, require another college to accept particular courses: receiving institutions decide how credits apply to their own degree requirements.
First-year applicants generally need to submit an application and a secondary-school academic record showing high school completion or an accepted equivalent. Ferris is not an open-admission institution, although its reported admission rate is relatively high.
In the reported first-year admissions figures, Ferris admitted about 91% of applicants. The university considers high school GPA and requires a school record; class rank and recommendations are considered when available rather than universally required. SAT or ACT scores are considered but are not listed as a general requirement. A score can therefore provide context for an application without being the sole measure of an applicant's preparation.
Requirements can change by applicant type and major. International applicants may need to document English proficiency, while programs with clinical, professional, or limited-capacity components may have additional admission steps after university admission. Applicants should distinguish admission to Ferris from admission to a particular major and check the current application instructions and term deadlines for their category.
Applicants should check the fee shown in Ferris State's current application before submitting it. Application charges and temporary fee-waiver campaigns can vary by application route or applicant category, and an enrollment or orientation deposit is a different charge.
Students who cannot afford an application fee should ask admissions whether they qualify for a need-based waiver and what documentation or waiver code is required. That conversation is most useful before submitting a paid application, since a later waiver may not result in a refund. Graduate and professional applicants should check their own program's instructions rather than assume undergraduate fee rules apply.
Ferris State students have an Army ROTC participation arrangement through a cooperating host institution rather than a stand-alone Army ROTC unit operated by Ferris on its main campus. Interested students should confirm the current host, travel expectations, course registration process, and whether training fits their academic schedule.
ROTC participation and an ROTC scholarship are separate matters. Scholarship eligibility, medical and fitness standards, commissioning requirements, and any subsequent service obligation depend on the program and the student's circumstances. Applicants interested in Air Force or Navy ROTC should not assume that a local unit or cross-enrollment arrangement is available; they need confirmation from the relevant ROTC program before building it into an enrollment plan.
Ferris State accepts transfer applicants and generally considers credits from other accredited institutions. Admission to the university and acceptance of individual courses toward a chosen degree are separate decisions.
Transfer applicants should expect to submit official transcripts from every college attended and review any additional requirements for their intended major. Ferris also reports accepting certain examination-based and evaluated learning credits, including CLEP, DSST, and applicable American Council on Education recommendations. The award and use of such credit depend on current university and program rules.
Before enrolling, students can compare prior courses with Ferris transfer-equivalency information and request an official evaluation. The crucial question is not just how many credits transfer, but how many satisfy major, general-education, and graduation requirements. Students entering a selective program should also check prerequisite grades, application stages, and any minimum number of credits that must be completed through Ferris.
Ferris State students interested in study abroad should explore university-approved international study options early enough to fit them into their degree plan. The available destinations, formats, and academic departments can change from year to year.
A short-term, faculty-led course may fit differently into a schedule than a semester program run with a partner or outside provider. Before committing, students need written guidance on academic approval, how credits will count, program costs, travel documents, and whether their particular scholarships or federal aid can be used. Students in tightly sequenced majors should pay special attention to courses offered only once a year and to clinical or laboratory requirements.
15% of admitted students enrolled (1,677 of 11,387)
Regular application deadline
August 1Early Decision
NoMedian composite SAT score
1040Median composite ACT score
23Percent of students submitting ACT scores
1.27%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
72.65%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
NoSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Considered but not requiredSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
Considered but not requiredRecommendations
Considered but not requiredFormal demonstration of competencies
RequiredAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
Considered but not requiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Considered but not requiredOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
YesAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesOff-campus study
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionStudy abroad
YesWeekend/evening college
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
NoPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
FallData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.