Ferris State University is offering thousands of scholarship dollars to encourage high school and transfer students to complete its free admissions application by Oct. 31 and explore how a quality Ferris State education can change their lives.  

Ferris State is joining the Michigan College Access Network and participating in National Transfer Student Week as students seeking a four-year higher education home consider becoming a Bulldog and entering drawings with $9,000 in scholarship dollars up for grabs.  

Ferris State is offering one $3,000 scholarship, two $2,000 scholarships and four $500 awards to students as application completion incentives.  

“We know choosing a higher education destination is a major decision for students and their families. That process is beginning for some and continuing for others,” said Jeanine Ward-Roof, Ferris State’s vice president for Student Affairs. “This is a great collaborative initiative focused on student access and achievement. We see Ferris State as a preferred choice for many students and we are putting up opportunities for scholarship dollars to help students financially as they begin pursuing what we believe is a life-changing Ferris State University education.”  

Ferris State’s commitment to local students from the Mecosta Osceola Intermediate School District is an additional emphasis. Ferris State is making two other opportunities for $1,000 scholarships available to local high school students interested in earning their degree close to home as Bulldogs. 

“We place a high value on our local students – many of whom are already highly familiar with Ferris State University,” said Kristen Salomonson, dean of Enrollment Services. “Our students can qualify for a scholarship opportunity while minimizing costs as they earn a high-caliber college education in their backyard.”  

As part of National Transfer Student Week, set for Oct. 16-20, Ferris State will have a drawing explicitly geared to transfer students who will have an opportunity to win a $1,000 scholarship for successfully applying to Ferris State by Oct. 20.  

"Ferris State has great relationships with our community colleges, and we have worked closely with our partners to ensure a smooth transition to complete their four-year degree,” Ward-Roof said. “We’re excited about what our new Student Success Hubs, strengthening our partnerships with community colleges, will do for transfer and students looking for a first-rate education closer to home. This scholarship is an opportunity for a future Bulldog to get off to a great start financially.” 

Ferris State began the 2023-24 academic year with the start of classes on Monday, Aug. 28, with nearly 10,000 students enrolled as Bulldogs combined in Big Rapids and at our Student Success Hubs across Michigan through partnerships with community colleges.

Ferris State on Aug. 31 opened the $32 million Center for Virtual Learning on the Big Rapids campus with Michigan’s first purpose-built Esports Arena on a college campus.