Ferris State University vs. Purdue Northwest

Should I go to Ferris State University or Purdue University Northwest? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Ferris State University or Purdue Northwest is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Ferris State University vs. Purdue University Northwest comparison
Ferris State University Purdue University Northwest College 3 College 4
Ferris State University
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Overview

Ferris State University Purdue Northwest
Location Big Rapids, MI Hammond, Indiana
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 10,072 8,911
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #791
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ferris.edu pnw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Ferris State University Purdue Northwest
Tuition (In State) $13,076 $7,373
Tuition (Out of State) $13,076 $14,364
Room & Board $10,268 $8,215
Avg Net Price $13,978 $9,162
Avg Grant Aid $11,128 $7,070
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 75%

Admission

Ferris State University Purdue Northwest
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,228 5,670
Admitted 10,746 4,129
Acceptance Rate 87.9% 72.8%
Enrolled % 16.2% 31.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.19
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/23 18/24
SAT Range 910/1150 950/1170
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Ferris State University Purdue Northwest
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Engineering Technology (15%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

Outcomes

Ferris State University Purdue Northwest
Graduation Rate 45% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,000 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 58% -
Median Student Loan Debt $24,179 N/A
Median Loan Payment $250 N/A

Diversity

Ferris State University Purdue Northwest
% Men 45% 44%
% Women 55% 56%
Racial Diversity Low -
HBCU No No
% White 79% 0%
% Black 8% 0%
% Hispanic 4% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Ferris State University Purdue Northwest
% In-State 92% 87%
% Out-of-State 6% 13%

Campus

Ferris State University Purdue Northwest
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Ferris State University is larger than than Purdue Northwest based on total student enrollment (10,072 students vs. 8,911 students)

Ferris State University vs. Purdue Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ferris State University or Purdue Northwest?

  • Ferris State University is 77.3% more expensive to attend than Purdue Northwest for in-state tuition ($13,076.00 vs. $7,373.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.9% higher at Purdue Northwest than Ferris State University ($14,364.00 vs. $13,076.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Northwest than Ferris State University ($9,162 vs. $13,978)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Northwest are 25% lower than costs at Ferris State University ($8,215 vs. $10,268)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ferris State University than Purdue University Northwest (94% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ferris State University students is 57.4% larger than aid received Purdue University Northwest ($11,128 vs. $7,070)

Ferris State University vs. Purdue Northwest Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ferris State University or Purdue Northwest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue Northwest or Ferris State University .

  • Accepted freshman Ferris State University students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Purdue Northwest (3.19)
  • Ferris State University has a higher acceptance rate (87.9%) than Purdue Northwest (72.8%)

Ferris State University vs. Purdue Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Ferris State University or Purdue Northwest? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Purdue Northwest and Ferris State University.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/