Life on Campus - On The Town
Ferris State University's main campus, in Big Rapids, is ideally located in a classic small-town setting where family values remain as strong as ever.
Our students enjoy our location which is nestled in the heart of the West Michigan vacationland that attracts people in from around the state of Michigan. Big Rapids boasts a vibrant downtown area with a number of locally-owned businesses that cater to a college-student population. In addition to the small businesses our students love, Big Rapids also has larger department stores that serve as a one-stop shop for all of your needs.
Big Rapids features the Muskegon River, which is a popular attraction for our students who enjoy tubing during the warm summer months. The Manistee National Forest is nearby while Big Rapids and Mecosta County feature no shortage of parks and other idyllic outdoor areas perfect for biking, camping, canoeing, cross-country skiing, fishing, kayaking and more.
While our students love what the Big Rapids area and Ferris have to offer, they also like the University's close proximity to larger metropolitan areas of the Midwest. Our main campus is located within a one hour drive of Grand Rapids and is three hours from Detroit and four hours from Chicago.