Over the past 10 years, Ferris State’s ability to retain students has stagnated throughout the last five years, with the highest rate of 75% being nine years ago according to the student handbook.
As the fall semester closes, many students must figure out what they are doing for their future semesters at Ferris.
Most will decide to stay, but the rest will leave right before the winter break, which could be for reasons including finances, academic failure or mental health issues. Some can be seen moving out of the dorms, suites or apartments as everyone leaves for winter break.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average full-time student retention rate is 76.5% of students in 2022 with a steady increase.
According to the latest University Factbook, Ferris’ retention rate was below average at 71% during the 2022-23 school year.
Nursing sophomore Aubrey Lincoln had plans to stay at Ferris next semester and continue on the steady path of classes for her degree.
“Next semester I plan on staying and taking my chemistry class,” Lincoln said. “I am hoping to pass if I can pass medical microbiology.”
The majority of students, like freshman Khloe Groendyke, an undeclared student, plan to stay at Ferris.
“As of right now I plan on staying here in my dorm with my roommate,” Groendyke said. “I believe my roommate plans on staying as well.”
Even though the majority of students continue their education at Ferris, students still may know a peer who has planned to drop out or continue their education elsewhere.
Childhood education freshman Emma Bennett plans on staying at Ferris, she talked to her roommate and discovered she wants to transfer to Central Michigan University.
“I like it here a lot, but I don’t think my roommate plans on staying,” Bennett said. “I don’t think she likes it here as much.”
Students switching from Ferris to other universities is not rare. Many leave mid-semester for that reason. Throughout the summer of 2022 and spring of 2023, Ferris calculated that 904 students transferred to other schools, with 38 students who transferred to CMU.
According to Pearson Accelerated Pathways, students drop out or transfer due to the lack of financial aid, support felt on and off campus and academic hardship. Some students also need more time to figure out what they are doing.
Freshman Mckenna Crawford, who has an undeclared major, is leaving next semester because she does not want to attend Ferris undecided.
“Being undecided was much more stressful than I thought it would be,” Crawford said. “I want to declare my major before I return.”
When it comes to students deciding whether or not they are going to stay at Ferris, they have to look into multiple factors of their student life and success.