Compare / Ferris State (MI) vs Ohio State
Ferris State (MI) vs Ohio State
Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI, and The Ohio State University College of Optometry in Columbus, OH, 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 | Ferris State (MI) | Ohio State |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Big Rapids, MI | Columbus, OH |
| Type | Public | Public |
| Seats | 37 | 69 |
| Applicants per seat | 6.6 | 8.2 |
| Class GPA | 3.71 | 3.86 |
| Class OAT | 334 AA / 328 TS | 358 AA / 359 TS |
| NBEO ultimate pass rate | 72.7% (33 tested) | 98.3% (60 tested) |
| Tuition per year | $43,344 2026–27, same rate for all students | $31,746 resident, $52,802 nonresident (2025–26) |
| Living cost tier | Low: $21,000 a year | Low: $21,000 a year |
| Est. 4-year cost, out-of-state | $257,376 | $295,208 |
| OptomCAS deadline | Feb 1, 2027 | Mar 1, 2027 |
| Interview | Panel of three committee members, on campus | Not published |
| Seat deposit | $500 | $750 |
| Letters | 3: optometrist + science professor | 3: optometrist + professor required |
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
- Board pass rate: Ohio State is higher at 98.3%, against 72.7% at Ferris State (MI).
- Class GPA: Ohio State is higher at 3.86, against 3.71 at Ferris State (MI).
- Class OAT Academic Average: Ohio State is higher at 358, against 334 at Ferris State (MI).
- Seats: Ohio State is higher at 69, against 37 at Ferris State (MI).
- Applicants per seat: Ohio State is higher at 8.2, against 6.6 at Ferris State (MI).
- Four-year cost, out-of-state: Ohio State is higher at $295,208, against $257,376 at Ferris State (MI).
- In-state tuition: Ohio State charges $31,746 a year to OH residents. Ferris State (MI) charges everyone the same rate.
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
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
Ohio State
- Highest NBEO ultimate pass rate in the U.S. (98.3%)
- Lowest in-state tuition of any program
- Low cost of living
Ohio State
- Most selective school on the list (3.86 class GPA)
- On-site clinic does not offer shadowing
Run Your Own Numbers
- Cost calculator for Ferris State (MI) and for Ohio State, 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.
- Ferris State (MI) profile · Ohio State profile