Ferris State University

Location and Contact Information

The campus is in a self-contained town.

Overview

Ferris State University, or FSU, was established on September 1, 1884, as the Big Rapids Industrial School. It was founded by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, a governor of the State of Michigan and US Senator. In January 1885, it was renamed to Ferris Industrial School and became Ferris Institute in 1899. FSU became Ferris State College in 1963 and gained university status in 1987. Apart from its Grand Rapids campus, the university also has another campus in Big Rapids, Michigan. The academic units of FSU are as follows:

• College of Allied Health Sciences
• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Business
• College of Education and Human Services
• College of Engineering Technology
• College of Pharmacy
• College of Professional and Technological Studies
• Kendall College of Art and Design
• Michigan College of Optometry
• University College

FSU has officially recognized a number of Greek Letter Organizations which are governed by the Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council. Some of these fraternities and sororities are Alpha Chi Rho, Lambda Chi Alpha, Sigma Pi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Delta Zeta, Alpha Xi Delta, Phi Sigma Sigm, and Alpha Sigma Tau. In addition, FSU has several Black Greek Council fraternities and sororities.

Highlights (vs. Other Schools)

• Many students concentrating in design, real estate and construction management, security and law enforcement, engineering technician, and medicine.
• Large number of programs of study offered.
• Large number of students.
• Number of dorm rooms for students.
• Selective admissions.
• Superior share of faculty on tenure track.
• Good faculty-to-student ratio.
• High male/female ratio.

School characteristics:

• The school is public.
• Academic calender: Semester.
• Carnegie classification: Masters Colleges and Universities II.

Features of note:

• The school offers a faculty tenure system.
• There are one or more libraries on-campus.
• Campus housing is available.
• Students may study abroad.
• Distance learning is available.
• Weekend study is an option.
• Part-time classes are available.
• ROTC.
• Athlete financial aid is awarded.

Similar Schools

Based on proprietary BrainTrack computer comparisons against all other US colleges, these schools appear to be most similar to Ferris State:

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Degrees Awarded (in 2009-2010)

Faculty

Tenure (2009-2010):

Students

Student enrollment was 13,532 in 2009-2010 (11,885 full-time equivalent).

About 50% of the freshmen class in 2009-2010 was male and women were 50% of the class.

Undergrads are 88% of enrolled students and graduate students are 12%.

Students under 25 years old represent 73% of the student body. About 7% of the school is at least 40 years of age.

Among freshmen students, 97% are full-time and 3% are part-time.

Admissions Summary (2009-2010)

Room and Board

Ferris State provides on-campus housing for 4,238 of its 11,885 (full-time) students (as of 2009-2010). The school requires freshmen to live on campus.

Athletics

School sports include football, basketball, baseball, and track. The school is in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for major sports.

The school offers financial aid for athletes. Of students receiving athletic financial aid, 121 male students received the aid (men were 57% of those receiving aid) and 91 women were awarded financial aid based on athletics (representing 43% of students receiving such aid) .

Graduate School Focus

Ferris State offers graduate (post-Bachelor) studies. The highest degree offered is the Doctorate (Professional Practice).

Graduate offerings include continuing professional education.The school's Graduate School Carnegie Classification is Postbaccalaureate With Arts & Sciences (Fields Other Than Education And Business).

Programs of Study

(Number of degrees in 2009-2010 in parentheses)

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (550 awarded)

• Accounting
• Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping
• Accounting and Finance
• Business Administration and Management
• Business/Commerce
• E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce
• Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
• Fashion Merchandising
• Finance
• Hospitality and Recreation Marketing Operations
• Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration
• International Business/Trade/Commerce
• Management Science
• Marketing Research
• Marketing/Marketing Management
• Operations Management and Supervision
• Selling Skills and Sales Operations

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (76 awarded)

• Computer and Information Systems Security
• Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration
• Information Technology

COOKING AND CULINARY ARTS (9 awarded)

• Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager

DESIGN (179 awarded)

• Design and Applied Arts
• Design and Visual Communications
• Graphic Design
• Illustration
• Industrial Design
• Interior Design

EDUCATION AND TEACHING (232 awarded)

• Art Teacher Education
• Biology Teacher Education
• Business Teacher Education
• Chemistry Teacher Education
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Elementary Education and Teaching
• English/Language Arts Teacher Education
• History Teacher Education
• Mathematics Teacher Education
• Secondary Education and Teaching
• Social Studies Teacher Education
• Technical Teacher Education

ENGINEERING (11 awarded)

• Construction Engineering

ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN (504 awarded)

• Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician
• Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician
• CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician
• Civil Engineering Technology/Technician
• Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
• Electrical/Electronic/Communications Engr Technology/Technician
• Energy Management and Systems Technology/Technician
• Environmental Engineering Technology/Environmental Technology
• Heating/AC/Refrigeration Technology/Technician
• Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
• Industrial Technology/Technician
• Manufacturing Technology/Technician
• Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Technology/Technician
• Plastics Engineering Technology/Technician
• Quality Control Technology/Technician
• Surveying Technology/Surveying
• Telecommunications Technology/Technician

FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK (71 awarded)

• Child Care and Support Services Management
• Public Administration
• Social Work

FINE ARTS (42 awarded)

• Art History, Criticism and Conservation
• Fine/Studio Arts
• Metal and Jewelry Arts
• Painting
• Sculpture

HOSPITALITY (31 awarded)

• Hospitality Administration/Management
• Hotel/Motel Administration/Management

LANDSCAPING AND HORTICULTURE (9 awarded)

• Ornamental Horticulture

LAW (14 awarded)

• Legal Assistant/Paralegal

LIBERAL ARTS (46 awarded)

• English Composition
• English Language and Literature/Letters
• General Studies
• History
• Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
• Political Science and Government
• Sociology
• Speech and Rhetorical Studies
• Technical and Business Writing

MATHEMATICS (6 awarded)

• Applied Mathematics

MECHANICS AND REPAIR (139 awarded)

• Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician
• Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician
• Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology/Technician
• Industrial Electronics Technology/Technician

MEDIA (128 awarded)

• Advertising
• Animation, Interactive Tech, Video Graphics and Special Effects
• Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
• Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator, General Production
• Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design
• Printing Management
• Public Relations/Image Management
• Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician

MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION (124 awarded)

• Health Information/Medical Records Administration/Administrator
• Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician
• Health/Health Care Administration/Management

MEDICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY (283 awarded)

• Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist
• Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technician
• Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
• Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer & Ultrasound Technician
• Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences
• Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder
• Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist
• Nuclear Medical Technology/Technologist
• Phlebotomy/Phlebotomist
• Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist

MEDICINE (184 awarded)

• Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
• Optometry (OD)
• Pharmacy (PharmD [USA], PharmD or BS/BPharm [Canada])

MUSIC (23 awarded)

• Music Management and Merchandising

NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE (109 awarded)

• Nursing Administration (MSN, MS, PhD)
• Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)

NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY (24 awarded)

• Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
• Sport and Fitness Administration/Management

OFFICE AND ADMINISTRATION (1 awarded)

• Office Management and Supervision

PHOTOGRAPHY AND COMMERCIAL ART (17 awarded)

• Commercial and Advertising Art
• Photography

PRODUCTION TRADES (40 awarded)

• Tool and Die Technology/Technician
• Welding Technology/Welder

REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT (105 awarded)

• Construction Management
• Real Estate

SCIENCE (143 awarded)

• Biochemistry
• Biological and Physical Sciences
• Biology/Biological Sciences
• Biotechnology
• Chemistry
• Environmental Biology

SCIENCE AND LABORATORY TECHNICIAN (10 awarded)

• Chemical Technology/Technician

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (308 awarded)

• Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
• Criminal Justice/Police Science
• Criminalistics and Criminal Science

THERAPY AND COUNSELING (25 awarded)

• Psychology