Ferris State University (FSU, Ferris) is a public university with its main campus in Big Rapids, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1884 as the Big Rapids Industrial School by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, an educator from New England who later served as governor of the State of Michigan and finally in the US Senate where he remained until his death in 1928. The school was noteworthy at its time for accepting female students beginning with its first graduating class. It is also the only public university in Michigan to be founded by an individual. Today Ferris is the ninth largest university in the state with 14,381 students studying on its main campus, at one of the 18 off-campus locations across the state, or online. The focus of education is on preparing students for successful careers. Two- and four-year degrees are offered through ten academic colleges and graduate degrees from six. Ferris grants professional doctorate degrees via its optometry and pharmacy colleges and a doctorate of education in community college leadership through the College of Professional and Technological Studies.