Compare / Detroit Mercy vs Ferris State (MI)
Detroit Mercy vs Ferris State (MI)
University of Detroit Mercy School of Optometry in Novi, MI, and Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI, side by side on the same measures. Schools are listed alphabetically, and neither is a pick from us.
Last checked Nov 2, 2026. Board results are NBEO 2024–25; class figures are the fall 2025 entering class.
| Measure | Detroit Mercy | Ferris State (MI) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Novi, MI | Big Rapids, MI |
| Type | Private | Public |
| Seats | 35 | 37 |
| Applicants per seat | 6.5 | 6.6 |
| Class GPA | 3.46 | 3.71 |
| Class OAT | 303 AA / 291.5 TS | 334 AA / 328 TS |
| NBEO ultimate pass rate | — (n/a tested) | 72.7% (33 tested) |
| Tuition per year | $45,500 2025–26 | $43,344 2026–27, same rate for all students |
| Living cost tier | Moderate: $25,000 a year | Low: $21,000 a year |
| Est. 4-year cost, out-of-state | $282,000 | $257,376 |
| OptomCAS deadline | May 20, 2027 | Feb 1, 2027 |
| Interview | Two interviewers with standard questions, on campus or virtual | Panel of three committee members, on campus |
| Seat deposit | Not published | $500 |
| Letters | 3: optometrist + science professor | 3: optometrist + science professor |
Four-year costs use out-of-state tuition for public schools, four years of flat tuition and a living allowance by tier, before scholarships. For the U.S. as a whole, the board pass rate is 82.5%.
Tuition figures are for the year each school last published; the years differ, so check the notes in the table before you compare them.
Where They Differ
- Class GPA: Ferris State (MI) is higher at 3.71, against 3.46 at Detroit Mercy.
- Class OAT Academic Average: Ferris State (MI) is higher at 334, against 303 at Detroit Mercy.
- Seats: Ferris State (MI) is higher at 37, against 35 at Detroit Mercy.
- Applicants per seat: Ferris State (MI) is higher at 6.6, against 6.5 at Detroit Mercy.
- Four-year cost, out-of-state: Detroit Mercy is higher at $282,000, against $257,376 at Ferris State (MI).
- Public or private: Detroit Mercy is private, and Ferris State (MI) is public.
Class averages aren't cutoffs and pass rates describe past graduates, not you. A higher number isn't a better school; it's a different one to weigh against what you want.
What Each School Page Notes
Detroit Mercy
- New school with a small class
Detroit Mercy
- Not yet fully accredited; first class graduates in 2029
- No board results yet
Ferris State (MI)
- Tiny class (37 seats)
- Low cost of living
- Same tuition for residents and nonresidents
Ferris State (MI)
- Results based on only 33 graduates
- Rural setting
Run Your Own Numbers
- Cost calculator for Detroit Mercy and for Ferris State (MI), with your home state's tuition programs.
- Stats checker: where your GPA and OAT sit against both classes.
- Is optometry worth it? Test either school's cost against what optometrists earn.
- Detroit Mercy profile · Ferris State (MI) profile