Championing Public Health Causes at Ferris
Ferris State University appears in our ranking of the Top 10 Master’s in Environmental Health Degrees Online.
Since Fall 2014, the College of Health Professions has awarded the Bachelor of Science in Public Health for Ferris State University undergrads in Victor F. Spathelf Center to pursue entry-level careers preventing diseases primarily in rural areas. Chaired by Dr. Emmanuel Jadhav, the 130-credit program follows the Traditional or Accelerated Three-Year track of Big Rapids courses from Epidemiology to Genetics with a 16:1 learner-faculty ratio. Several other majors, such as the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Social Work, pair well with a 18-credit Public Health Minor too.
On Blackboard, post-grads pursue the Master of Public Health for advanced capacity managing community well-being initiatives. The 42-credit generalist sequence led by Dr. Fathima Wakeel ends in capstone projects after online courses like Grant Proposal Writing and Biostatistics. Focus areas include epidemiology, health services administration, environmental health and health education/behavioral science. Ferris students might also intern at Mary Free Bed Hospital, join the APHA, mentor at Camp Newaygo, celebrate Public Health Week, add the Online Lean Healthcare Certificate, engage in the Health Equity Leadership Institute, and participate in the Global Brigades.
About Ferris State University
Ferris State University originated as the Big Rapids Industrial School on September 1, 1884, after Senator Woodbridge Nathan Ferris acquired the Vandersluis Block for $50,000. The next January, it permanently relocated to today’s 880-acre Lower Peninsula campus on the Muskegon River. Renamed the Ferris Institute in 1898, it famously constructed the Pharmacy Annex in 1901. By 1923, it was sold to Gerrit Masselink and Bert Scott Travis with nonprofit status. During Wells D. White’s 1930s tenure, Ferris was publicly acquired by the Board of Incorporators. On July 1, 1950, Governor G. Mennen Williams took over governance of the Ferris State College. Given university status in 1987, Ferris continued growing with the Molecular Diagnostics Lab in 2012. Budgeting $212 million, Ferris State University now teaches 13,798 Bulldogs, including BSPH and Master of Public Health majors, from 32 countries for 77 percent retention.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked Ferris State the 94th best Midwest university and 22nd top regional college with the 58th best online graduate health care degrees nationally. On Niche, Ferris boasts America’s 105th best dining, 187th most conservative students, 284th best Greek life, and 307th top public education. Times Higher Education placed Ferris State University among its 601-800 best institutions overall. College Factual honored Ferris for the 153rd best value, 150th most male-female diversity, and 67th most popular health professions programs. The Economist deemed Ferris State the 160th best value-added school. PayScale calculated the 404th best 20-year ROI of $332,000 for Ferris State University grads. WalletHub crowned Ferris the country’s 190th safest campus and 162nd best financial aid provider. The Social Mobility Index also positioned Ferris State 80th for low-income opportunity.
Ferris State University Accreditation Details
On February 21, 2012, Ferris State University successfully passed the five-criteria PEAQ evaluation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) to renew Level VI accreditation for 10 more years under its 18th president, Dr. David L. Eisler, who accepted the 2013 CCL Uncommon Greatness Award. Headquartered 231 miles southwest via Interstate 196 in Chicago, this unique 19-state Upper Midwest accreditor is authorized by the U.S. Education Department to comprehensively check Ferris State’s 45 associate, 122 baccalaureate, 19 master’s, and four doctoral majors. In June 2017, the College of Health Professions also began the accreditation candidacy process with the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Ferris State University Application Requirements
Attending Ferris State University is considered “minimally difficult” by Peterson’s despite a selective 74 percent acceptance rate that chose 7,361 of the 9,926 Fall 2017 applicants. First-year Bulldogs digging the B.S. in Public Health must finish a qualifying 16-unit high school curriculum or the GED equivalent. Traditional freshmen need cumulative GPAs above 2.7, but the Accelerated Three-Year Track moves the minimum to 3.0. On the SAT, scoring at least 450 on Reading and 500 on Math for 900 composite is expected. Likewise, ACT takers need a 16 English and 19 Mathematics mark if under 23 years old. Major prerequisites, including Biology, Organic Chemistry, and Statistics, need “C” grades or greater. Online MPH cohorts graduate from regionally accredited bachelor’s programs in diverse majors with 3.0 GPAs. Averages over 3.5 are exempt from scoring in the top 50th percentile on the Graduate Record Exam. English learners still must achieve a 213 TOEFL cBT, 250 TSE, or 4.0 TWE score though.
Ferris State University has domestic undergrad deadlines of July 1st for Fall, December 1st for Spring, and April 1st for Summer starts. International BSPH entrants must apply before June 15th, October 15th, and February 15th respectively. The Graduate Studies Office offers rolling admission to the Master of Public Health though. Admission decisions are made in 3-4 weeks of submitting the Free Online Application or $30 Application by mail. Request official transcripts be sent to 1201 South State Street in Big Rapids, MI 49307. Optional test scores are sent digitally with SAT code 1222 or ACT code 1994. Supplemental documents include the current résumé, three professional recommendations, public health interest statement, and proof of financial ability. Please contact (231) 591-2000 or admissions@ferris.edu for further instructions.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2018-19, Ferris State University is billing U.S. residents and Canadians $421 per credit or $11,788 annually full-time as freshmen or sophomores. Juniors and seniors pay $435 per credit or $12,180 each year for the B.S. in Public Health. International students see full-time prices spike to $19,040 and $19,600 respectively. Living at the Mecosta County campus’ dorms like Brophy or Cramer Hall adds $2,140 to $4,691 every semester. Anytime meal plans for Quad Food Court cost $5,168 yearly. Ferris budgets $914 for textbooks and $1,120 for miscellaneous needs. Annual bachelor’s attendance is around $23,556 domestic and $30,516 internationally. The Online MPH currently charges Michiganders $564 and non-residents $846 per credit. Master’s totals range from $23,688 to $35,532 in 24 months.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office in Timme Center banks $66.81 million yearly for 67 percent of full-time Ferris Bulldogs to fetch assistance averaging $7,694. University funds include the Woodbridge N. Ferris Scholarship, Crimson Scholarship, Provost’s Scholarship, Next Scholarship, International Transfer Scholarship, Achievement Scholarship, Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, Robert F. Williams Scholarship, Daudi Book Scholarship, and Leading Shadows Scholarship. The Spectrum Health Big Rapids Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship specifically gifts $2,000 to B.S. in Public Health majors. The College of Health Professions Empowerment Award has a February 28th deadline and 3.0 GPA minimum. Federal Pell and FSEOG Grant coverage is determined by FAFSA applications coded 002260. Ferris Work-Study jobs, including at Birkam Health Center, pay at least $9.25/hour. Enrolling at least half-time qualifies for Federal Stafford, Perkins, Graduate Plus, and Health Professions loans. Some could enter the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program after 120 payments. Michigan also provides the Tuition Incentive Program, Competitive Scholarship, Gear Up Scholarship, and Fostering Futures Scholarship.
Find more about Ferris State University at the Public Health Department website.