February 25, 2026

Deadline approaching for prospective students with Ferris State family ties to apply for new scholarship

There is still time for prospective Ferris State University students to apply for the new Bulldog First Year Alumni Scholarship to encourage more students with family members who are Ferris State alumni to enroll at the university.

The $1,000 scholarship opportunity will be available for the first time starting in the fall 2026 semester, as the deadline to apply is Saturday, Feb. 28.

“This is a pilot program and with great success, we hope to bring it back next year,” said Heather Stewart, director of Financial Aid and Assistant Dean of Enrollment Services.

Stewart said the Jeremy Lane, the associate vice president and dean of Enrollment Services, envisioned the scholarship as a way to honor alumni parents and year one students and create financial security for Bulldogs.

“We are just thrilled with the response right now and excited to be able to help bulldogs for the 2026-27 academic year in this way,” Stewart said.

Students must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the Bulldog First Year Alumni Scholarship:

• Have at least one parent or grandparent who is a Ferris State University alum.
• Be admitted as a first-year (freshman) undergraduate student at Ferris State University in any degree-granting program.
• Enroll full-time, with a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.
• Have a minimum high school GPA of 2.75.
• The scholarship is awarded for one academic year only and is non-renewable.

Stewart said that any scholarship helps to reduce stress and other financial burdens for students wanting to further their education, which is it is Ferris State’s mission to offer an extensive list of scholarship opportunities for new and current students to make sure they graduate and become part of the Bulldog alumni.

“A Ferris State University degree is valuable because of real, hands-on experience, trusted connections and career-ready skills our students gain with their time here. With that investment, the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid is here to offset it with aid options that meet the students where they are at and by supporting their goals.

“The work with the Bulldog First Year Alumni Scholarship, and what makes it special, is we heard from alumni parents directly and we responded,” Stewart said. “We see how excited they are to be back on campus and see all the changes and improvements, and when they can help their student in this monetary way, it's a big deal for the whole family. It's this full circle moment and we don't take it for granted.

Stewart said Lane collaborated with the Ferris State alumni team to make the scholarship a reality.

Ferris State’s Scholarship Universe webpage was also launched this past December, as it provides more details on how to apply for the Bulldog First Year Alumni Scholarship and other relative opportunities.

Students that need help with financial aid, their ability to pay or just wants to understand their aid better can contact the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid via walk-in or virtual meetings, by phone, or through email correspondence.