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💰 Ferris State University Merit Scholarships

Total Scholarships
19
Automatic
12
In-State Awards
$300-$10,000/yr
Out-of-State Awards
$300-$10,000/yr
Multi-Year Awards
$1,000 total
Typical Requirements for Automatic Merit
2.2 GPA / 31 ACT

Ferris State University awards merit scholarships automatically on GPA and test scores, with no separate application. Awards run $300-$10,000/yr for out-of-state students. Eligibility starts at 2.2 GPA / 31 ACT. Against tuition of $14,582, students receiving the largest award pay about $4,582 a year before other aid.

What you'd actually pay at Ferris State University

Tuition & fees
$14,582
−
Largest annual award
$10,000
=
Students receiving it pay about
$4,582/yr

Tuition and fees only — housing (about $11,462), books and travel are extra. Awards must still be won and may carry renewal conditions. Need-based aid is separate and may reduce this further.

Official Scholarship Information
View complete details on Ferris State University's website
Visit School Website →

Automatic merit scholarships at Ferris State University — no separate application

12 awards granted on your admission application, based on GPA and test scores.

Crimson Scholarship
Award
$3,000/yr in-state
$3,000/yr out-of-state
In-State Requirements
GPA 3.0+
Eligibility: Every new freshman at our Big Rapids campus and Kendall College of Art and Design receives a Woodbridge N. Ferris Scholarship if they meet the criteria. You don't even have to apply for the scholarship - if you qualify, you will automatically receive your scholarship.
How to apply: ["Continuous full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours)", "Be a new freshman at Big Rapids campus or KCAD", "Meet the specific GPA/score criteria for each tier"]
Source ↗
Dean's Scholarship
Award
$4,500/yr in-state
$4,500/yr out-of-state
In-State Requirements
GPA 3.2+
Eligibility: Every new freshman at our Big Rapids campus and Kendall College of Art and Design receives a Woodbridge N. Ferris Scholarship if they meet the criteria. You don't even have to apply for the scholarship - if you qualify, you will automatically receive your scholarship.
How to apply: ["Continuous full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours)", "Be a new freshman at Big Rapids campus or KCAD", "Meet the specific GPA/score criteria for each tier"]
Source ↗
Ferris Merit Grant
Eligibility: Ferris Merit Grant is an institutional grant that does not have to be repaid. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and be enrolled at the Big Rapids Main Campus to be considered. Both financial need and academic performance are considerations in eligibility.
How to apply: ["Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)", "Be enrolled full-time (minimum of 12 credit hours)"]
Source ↗
Ferris Next Scholarship
Award
$1,000/yr in-state
$1,000/yr out-of-state
Eligibility: Every new freshman at our Big Rapids campus and Kendall College of Art and Design receives a Woodbridge N. Ferris Scholarship if they meet the criteria. You don't even have to apply for the scholarship - if you qualify, you will automatically receive your scholarship.
How to apply: ["Continuous full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours)", "Be a new freshman at Big Rapids campus or KCAD", "Meet the specific GPA/score criteria for each tier"]
Source ↗
Forward Scholarship (Woodbridge N. Ferris Forward)
Award
$1,000 one-time in-state
$1,000 one-time out-of-state
In-State Requirements
GPA 2.2+
Eligibility: Every new freshman at our Big Rapids campus and Kendall College of Art and Design receives a Woodbridge N. Ferris Scholarship if they meet the criteria. You don't even have to apply for the scholarship - if you qualify, you will automatically receive your scholarship.
How to apply: ["Continuous full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours)", "Be a new freshman at Big Rapids campus or KCAD", "Meet the specific GPA/score criteria for each tier"]
Source ↗
Founder's Scholarship
Award
$10,000/yr in-state
$10,000/yr out-of-state
In-State Requirements
GPA 3.9+ • ACT 31+ • SAT 1350+
Eligibility: Every new freshman at our Big Rapids campus and Kendall College of Art and Design receives a Woodbridge N. Ferris Scholarship if they meet the criteria. You don't even have to apply for the scholarship - if you qualify, you will automatically receive your scholarship.
How to apply: ["Continuous full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours)", "Be a new freshman at Big Rapids campus or KCAD", "Meet the specific GPA/score criteria for each tier"]
Source ↗
Momentum Scholarship
Award
$3,500/yr in-state
$3,500/yr out-of-state
In-State Requirements
GPA 2.4+
Eligibility: Every new freshman at our Big Rapids campus and Kendall College of Art and Design receives a Woodbridge N. Ferris Scholarship if they meet the criteria. You don't even have to apply for the scholarship - if you qualify, you will automatically receive your scholarship.
How to apply: ["Continuous full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours)", "Be a new freshman at Big Rapids campus or KCAD", "Meet the specific GPA/score criteria for each tier"]
Source ↗
President's Scholarship
Award
$6,500/yr in-state
$6,500/yr out-of-state
In-State Requirements
GPA 4.0+
Eligibility: Every new freshman at our Big Rapids campus and Kendall College of Art and Design receives a Woodbridge N. Ferris Scholarship if they meet the criteria. You don't even have to apply for the scholarship - if you qualify, you will automatically receive your scholarship.
How to apply: ["Continuous full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours)", "Be a new freshman at Big Rapids campus or KCAD", "Meet the specific GPA/score criteria for each tier"]
Source ↗
Provost's Scholarship
Award
$5,500/yr in-state
$5,500/yr out-of-state
In-State Requirements
GPA 3.5+
Eligibility: Every new freshman at our Big Rapids campus and Kendall College of Art and Design receives a Woodbridge N. Ferris Scholarship if they meet the criteria. You don't even have to apply for the scholarship - if you qualify, you will automatically receive your scholarship.
How to apply: ["Continuous full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours)", "Be a new freshman at Big Rapids campus or KCAD", "Meet the specific GPA/score criteria for each tier"]
Source ↗
Transfer Crimson Scholarship
Award
$3,500/yr in-state
$3,500/yr out-of-state
In-State Requirements
GPA 3.0+
Eligibility: These scholarships are available to new main campus and KCAD Transfer students beginning fall 2022 semester.
How to apply: ["Continuous full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours)", "Meet transfer GPA and accepted credit hour criteria for each tier", "Some scholarships require application and documentation (e.g., Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship)"]
Source ↗
Transfer Gold Scholarship
Award
$5,500/yr in-state
$5,500/yr out-of-state
In-State Requirements
GPA 3.3+
Eligibility: These scholarships are available to new main campus and KCAD Transfer students beginning fall 2022 semester.
How to apply: ["Continuous full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours)", "Meet transfer GPA and accepted credit hour criteria for each tier", "Some scholarships require application and documentation (e.g., Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship)"]
Source ↗
Transfer President's Scholarship
Award
$6,500/yr in-state
$6,500/yr out-of-state
In-State Requirements
GPA 3.7+
Eligibility: These scholarships are available to new main campus and KCAD Transfer students beginning fall 2022 semester.
How to apply: ["Continuous full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours)", "Meet transfer GPA and accepted credit hour criteria for each tier", "Some scholarships require application and documentation (e.g., Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship)"]
Source ↗

Other scholarships at Ferris State University (7)

These require a separate application, or the school does not publish their eligibility criteria.

Detroit Promise
Eligibility: Every new freshman at our Big Rapids campus and Kendall College of Art and Design receives a Woodbridge N. Ferris Scholarship if they meet the criteria. You don't even have to apply for the scholarship - if you qualify, you will automatically receive your scholarship.
How to apply: ["Continuous full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours)", "Be a new freshman at Big Rapids campus or KCAD", "Meet the specific GPA/score criteria for each tier"]
Source ↗
Ferris Forward Transfer Scholarship
$1,000 one-time
Eligibility: These scholarships are available to new main campus and KCAD Transfer students beginning fall 2022 semester.
How to apply: ["Continuous full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours)", "Meet transfer GPA and accepted credit hour criteria for each tier", "Some scholarships require application and documentation (e.g., Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship)"]
Source ↗
International Student Scholarships (Undergraduate)
We currently offer a number of scholarships international students may be eligible for. The majority of our scholarships are merit based.
Eligibility: The majority of our scholarships are merit based, meaning our scholarship committee will make their decision based on your admissions application. The list of available scholarships can be found below: Woodbridge N. Ferris (WNF) Scholarship Program: President's, Provost's, Dean's, Ferris Gold, Ferris Crimson; Transfer Scholarship Program.
How to apply: ["Submit international admissions application", "Meet admissions criteria for scholarship consideration"]
Source ↗
Foundations Merit Awards
$300-$1,000/yr
Merit Awards range from $300 - $1000 Applied to the awarded student's tuition the following year.
Eligibility: KCAD Foundations students who have been full time in the Fall and Spring Semesters of their first year at KCAD, and who have completed the majority of required first year courses for their major at KCAD, are eligible to apply for FYE Merit Scholarships ranging from $300 - $1000.
How to apply: ["Submit a portfolio through Slideroom", "Portfolio must include General Education artifact (PDF), Art History analysis assignment (PDF), list of extracurricular activities (PDF), images of three projects from every FYE studio course completed"]
Source ↗
Graduate Scholarship of Merit
Eligibility: Eligible students must be enrolled full-time during the periods of enrollment in which they will be receiving the scholarship. All students must have an established KCAD GPA to apply for this scholarship. Undergraduate students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30, and graduate students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 to apply.
How to apply: ["Submit five (5) images or projects (studio applicants)", "Complete General essay question (studio applicants)", "Art History applicants must submit Art History essay response", "MADE applicants must submit MADE essay response", "Must apply when the academic year application opens"]
Source ↗
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
$6,000/yr
Eligibility: These scholarships are available to new main campus and KCAD Transfer students beginning fall 2022 semester.
How to apply: ["Continuous full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours)", "Meet transfer GPA and accepted credit hour criteria for each tier", "Some scholarships require application and documentation (e.g., Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship)"]
Source ↗
Undergraduate Scholarship of Merit
Eligibility: Eligible students must be enrolled full-time during the periods of enrollment in which they will be receiving the scholarship. All students must have an established KCAD GPA to apply for this scholarship. Undergraduate students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30, and graduate students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 to apply.
How to apply: ["Submit five (5) images or projects (studio applicants)", "Complete General essay question (studio applicants)", "Art History applicants must submit Art History essay response", "MADE applicants must submit MADE essay response", "Must apply when the academic year application opens"]
Source ↗

Deadlines that affect merit consideration at Ferris State University

Early Action
11/15/2025
Regular Decision
Rolling

Common questions about Ferris State University scholarships

How much merit aid does Ferris State University give?

Published awards range $300-$10,000/yr. Ferris State University lists 19 merit scholarships in total.

What GPA or test scores do you need for a scholarship at Ferris State University?

The lowest published threshold across automatic awards is 2.2 GPA / 31 ACT. Individual scholarships set their own cutoffs.

Does Ferris State University give merit scholarships to out-of-state students?

Yes. Awards for out-of-state students run $300-$10,000/yr.

Is there a full-ride scholarship at Ferris State University?

Not a full ride. The largest published award covers about 69% of tuition.

Do you have to apply separately for merit scholarships at Ferris State University?

10 of the published awards are granted automatically on your admission application, with no separate scholarship application.

When is the scholarship deadline at Ferris State University?

Merit consideration usually follows the admission deadline, which is 11/15/2025. Confirm scholarship-specific dates with the financial aid office.

💡 Tip: Award amounts and cutoffs change year to year. Confirm current figures with Ferris State University's financial aid office before making decisions — or check their scholarship page.

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