It was founded in 1884 as Big Rapids Industrial School by Woodbridge N. Ferris and became a public institution in 1950.

The Ferris State Bulldogs compete in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey, in which the team is part of the NCAA Division I Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

In January 1894, the school moved into and dedicated its new building, Old Main, on the corner of Oak and Ives Streets.

[10] In February 1943, alumnus Colin Smith introduced a bill in the legislature for the state to purchase Ferris Institute.

On May 17, 1949, Governor G. Mennen Williams signed the bill accepting Ferris Institute as a gift to the state of Michigan, which took over its governance on July 1, 1950.

[10] When Ferris became a state college in the fall of 1950, it had consisted entirely of one permanent structure, the Alumni Building, and some surplus Army barracks.

By contrast, current enrollment is more than 10,000, and the 880-acre (360 ha) campus contains 115 buildings, including educational, administrative, maintenance, student-activity, and residence-hall facilities.

Master's degrees in information security and intelligence, career and technical education, criminal justice, business administration, curriculum and instruction, nursing, and fine arts are available.

Ferris also offers doctoral degrees in optometry, pharmacy, nursing practice, and community college leadership.

Honors students live in specialized residence halls (mostly in single rooms), take enhanced general education courses, attend cultural events, and complete 15 hours of community service per semester.

[25] The school was also listed among the nation's Best Value College for the 2023–24 seasons, basing the institution for their academics, student success outcomes, financial aid and net price.

[27] The main campus is within easy walking distance of downtown Big Rapids with its restaurants, shops, movie theater, art gallery and municipal park.

[30] These locations are managed by the division of Extended and International Operations under the heading Ferris Statewide and Online.

Members of the Board serve eight-year, staggered terms as appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the State Senate.

[31] The president of the university is appointed by the board of trustees as its principal executive officer and serves at its pleasure.

[32] The General Assembly of Student Government is composed of two voting bodies; a House of Representatives and a Senate.

Each registered student organization (RSO) in good standing is eligible to hold one seat on the House of Representatives.

Ferris State offers an intercollegiate athletic program that includes 14 men's and women's sports at the NCAA Division II level, except for men's ice hockey which competes in NCAA Division I. Ferris State is a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) in all sports except men's ice hockey, in which the team is part of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

In March 2018, the men's basketball team won the NCAA Division II national championship.