OpenFieldFerris State University is a premier public polytechnic and professional university in Michigan, world-renowned for the Michigan College of Optometry, the College of Pharmacy, plastics engineering technology, digital animation, and information security.
Founded in 1884 by Woodbridge N. Ferris in Big Rapids (with a major health campus on Grand Rapids' 'Medical Mile'), Ferris State is unique in Michigan for combining vocational technical mastery with elite professional doctorates. The university houses the Michigan College of Optometry (the only optometry school in Michigan), one of only two plastics engineering technology bachelor's programs in the US, and national Centers of Excellence in cyber intelligence.
Undergraduate admissions evaluate high school GPA (minimum 2.5; test-optional for ACT/SAT). The Michigan College of Optometry requires a bachelor's degree, prerequisite science coursework, and Optometry Admission Test (OAT) scores. The College of Pharmacy requires pre-pharmacy prerequisites and PharmCAS application. International applicants require TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS 6.5.
The only doctoral optometry program in the State of Michigan, featuring patient care in the University Eye Center, ocular disease pathology, pediatric vision therapy, and laser surgical procedures.
One of only two ABET-accredited plastics engineering programs in the nation, providing hands-on training with million-dollar industrial injection molders, extrusion lines, polymer testing rheology, and CAD mold design.
Four-year professional clinical doctorate offering advanced hospital rotations on Grand Rapids' 'Medical Mile', training clinical pharmacotherapy specialists, hospital pharmacists, and pharmaceutical researchers.
Nationally ranked game design curriculum teaching 3D character modeling, Unreal Engine scripting, virtual reality development, digital rigging, and physics-based lighting simulation.
Designated by the NSA and DHS as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, covering threat intelligence analysis, enterprise penetration testing, database security, and digital forensics.
Flagship academic merit award for incoming freshmen based on cumulative high school GPA, honoring founder Woodbridge N. Ferris's vision of accessible technical education.
Dean of the Michigan College of Optometry and Professor of Optometry · Michigan College of Optometry
Dean Taylor is an optometric clinician and educator researching anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) and innovative pharmacotherapy for ocular hypertension.
View research profile ↗Professor of Plastics Engineering Technology · College of Engineering Technology - Plastics Engineering
Prof. Speirs is an authority on plastic injection molding rheology, conducting industrial troubleshooting trials and training manufacturing engineers in sensor-assisted mold cavities.
View research profile ↗Professor of Information Security and Intelligence · College of Business - Information Security and Intelligence
Prof. Dr. Gogolin is a Fulbright Scholar researching physical and logical digital forensics recovery methodologies from damaged mobile flash media and relational databases.
View research profile ↗University profile compiled from official Ferris State University academic bulletins and institutional directories reviewed on 2026-10-15. OpenField is an independent research guide.