Ferris State University vs. University of Houston-Downtown

Should I go to Ferris State University or University of Houston Downtown? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Ferris State University or University of Houston-Downtown 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. University of Houston Downtown comparison
Ferris State University University of Houston Downtown College 3 College 4
Ferris State University University of Houston Downtown
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Overview

Ferris State University University of Houston-Downtown
Location Big Rapids, MI Houston, TX
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 9,918 14,105
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #617 #923
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ferris.edu uhd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Ferris State University University of Houston-Downtown
Tuition (In State) $13,524 $6,252
Tuition (Out of State) $13,524 $16,332
Room & Board $10,660 $9,882
Avg Net Price $13,154 $14,269
Avg Grant Aid $12,823 $8,246
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 81%

Admission

Ferris State University University of Houston-Downtown
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,548 6,953
Admitted 7,694 6,302
Acceptance Rate 80.6% 90.6%Open
Enrolled % 20.7% 23.7%Open
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.29
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/26 17/23
SAT Range 890/1120 960/1110
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 Jun 1, 2026

Academics

Ferris State University University of Houston-Downtown
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Engineering Technology (15%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Business (40%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Ferris State University University of Houston-Downtown
Graduation Rate 45% 15%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,000 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 41%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,179 $18,750
Median Loan Payment $250 $193

Diversity

Ferris State University University of Houston-Downtown
% Men 3% 3%
% Women 6% 5%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 79% 17%
% Black 8% 23%
% Hispanic 4% 43%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Ferris State University University of Houston-Downtown
% In-State 93% 99%
% Out-of-State 5% 1%

Campus

Ferris State University University of Houston-Downtown
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Houston Downtown is larger than than Ferris State University based on total student enrollment (14,105 students vs. 9,918 students)

Ferris State University vs. University of Houston-Downtown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ferris State University or University of Houston-Downtown?

  • Ferris State University is 116.3% more expensive to attend than University of Houston-Downtown for in-state tuition ($13,524.00 vs. $6,252.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.8% higher at University of Houston-Downtown than Ferris State University ($16,332.00 vs. $13,524.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ferris State University than University of Houston-Downtown ($13,154 vs. $14,269)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston Downtown are 7.9% lower than costs at Ferris State University ($9,882 vs. $10,660)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ferris State University than University of Houston Downtown (97% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ferris State University students is 55.5% larger than aid received University of Houston Downtown ($12,823 vs. $8,246)

Ferris State University vs. University of Houston-Downtown Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Ferris State University (1009) is 115 points higher than at University of Houston-Downtown (894)
  • Incoming Ferris State University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at University of Houston-Downtown (18)
  • Accepted freshman Ferris State University students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at University of Houston-Downtown (3.29)
  • University of Houston-Downtown has a higher acceptance rate (90.6%) than Ferris State University (80.6%)

Ferris State University vs. University of Houston-Downtown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Ferris State University or University of Houston-Downtown? 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 University of Houston-Downtown and Ferris State University.

  • The graduation rate at Ferris State University is higher than University of Houston Downtown (45% vs. 15%)
  • Graduates from University of Houston Downtown earn on average $400 more per year than Ferris State University graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $47,000)
  • University of Houston Downtown students graduate with a $5,429 lower median federal student loan debt than Ferris State University graduates. ($18,750 vs. $24,179)
  • University of Houston-Downtown graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Ferris State University graduates. ($193 vs. $250)
  • More Ferris State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Houston-Downtown students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 41%)

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