Ferrum College

Private · Moderately Selective · VA

Photo: Nyttend (Public Domain)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationVA · South

SettingRural

Undergrads699

Student:faculty11:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate23.8%

6-yr grad rate31.9%

Drop-out rate35.9%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$29k

Out-of-state tuition$29k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity50.9%

Gender diversity39.5%

International0.6%

IdentityUnited Methodist

Overview

Ferrum College is a small private college in the Blue Ridge foothills of southwest Virginia, with historical ties to the Methodist Church. It draws a substantial share of first-generation college students and positions itself around hands-on, applied programs rather than a traditional liberal-arts-first identity.

Academics

Agricultural sciences, environmental and outdoor programs, and criminal justice are the college's clearest areas of strength, taking direct advantage of the surrounding rural, mountainous setting. Programs in these areas tend to include fieldwork and applied projects rather than being classroom-only.

Campus & student life

The rural Blue Ridge setting supports outdoor recreation, with hiking and other activities accessible directly from campus, and shapes a campus culture more oriented toward the outdoors than toward a nearby city, since Ferrum itself is a small, remote town.

Getting in

Admission is relatively accessible, with the college emphasizing support for first-generation and underprepared students as much as a competitive review of transcripts.

Worth knowing

The college's applied, outdoor-oriented programs make it a stronger fit for students specifically interested in agriculture, forestry, environmental fieldwork, or criminal justice than for students seeking a broad liberal arts experience.

ferrum.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate89%

Enrolled mid-50%1110

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying