Ferrum College

What is the history of Ferrum College?

Ferrum College was founded in 1913 to expand educational opportunities in the Blue Ridge region of Virginia. It began as Ferrum Training School, an institution associated with the Methodist church that served students for whom access to secondary and postsecondary education was limited.

The school later developed into a junior college and then a four-year college. That history helps explain two features of Ferrum today: its continuing relationship with the United Methodist Church and its emphasis on undergraduate education. Applicants reviewing older records may encounter the former Ferrum Training School name, but the institution in Ferrum, Virginia, is now Ferrum College.

What are the faculties and departments at Ferrum College?

Ferrum College is a small college offering undergraduate programs across the liberal arts and professional fields, along with graduate study. Prospective students should explore programs by major and credential rather than assume that every subject is housed in a separate school.

Its academic offerings include fields such as biology, environmental studies, education, criminal justice, social work, nursing, business, the arts, and the humanities. Some paths, particularly nursing and teacher preparation, can have admission, clinical-placement, or licensure requirements beyond general college admission. A prospective student should check the current academic catalog for the degree attached to a particular program, required courses, and whether the major can be completed on the intended schedule.

The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 11 to 1. That institution-wide measure describes enrollment relative to faculty; it does not mean every class has 11 students.

What is the location of Ferrum College?

Ferrum College is in Ferrum, a rural community in Franklin County, Virginia. Its setting is more residential and car-dependent than that of a college in a large city.

Students considering internships, shopping, medical appointments, or travel home should account for transportation beyond campus. First-year students are permitted to register or park a car on campus, though they should check current permit rules and costs. Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport serves the broader region; reaching it requires ground transportation. The rural location may appeal to students who want a smaller-community setting, but it also makes planning off-campus travel important.

What is the mission and vision of Ferrum College?

Ferrum describes its educational mission in terms of learning, career preparation, and service. The college is related to the United Methodist Church, a historical affiliation that informs its stated values without making every student's academic program a religious program.

For applicants, the useful distinction is between an institution's stated purpose and measurable features of the student experience. Program requirements, opportunities for community engagement, and available student support provide more concrete ways to assess how Ferrum puts its mission into practice. Students interested in religious life or in studying without participating in it should review current campus offerings and any applicable course requirements.