Ferris State University is one of the top four-year colleges in the nation for demonstrating exceptional success in creating pathways that help community college transfer students earn bachelor’s degrees, according to the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

Phi Theta Kappa named 275 colleges and universities to its 2026 Transfer Honor Roll, with Ferris State being among just five Michigan public universities saluted. It’s the second year in a row that Ferris State has been honored by the organization.

The Transfer Honor Roll is one of the nation’s most comprehensive recognitions of transfer excellence.

“Recognition matters because it shines a light on what works,” said Heather Yush, senior director of College Relations for Phi Theta Kappa. “When colleges are recognized for transfer excellence, they create powerful examples that inspire other institutions to strengthen their own transfer pathways. Ultimately, that means more students earn the bachelor’s degrees they set out to achieve.”

Ferris State last year had 1,429 students who transferred from four-year universities and community colleges, with the largest number coming from Grand Rapids Community College, Northwestern Community College, Delta College, Mott Community College and Grand Valley State University. 

Information about transferring to Ferris State is here, and details of transfer student scholarships are here.

Institutions are evaluated using data from the National Student Clearinghouse along with data collected through PTK Connect, Phi Theta Kappa’s online platform that connects our nation’s top community college students with transfer opportunities.

Rather than measuring a single outcome, the Honor Roll evaluates how well institutions support transfer students from admission through graduation.

Colleges are assessed across five dimensions shown to influence transfer success:

• Transfer student success outcomes.
• Credit mobility and degree applicability.
• Financial support for transfer students.
• Recruitment and admissions practices.
• Campus engagement and support for transfer students.

Institutions that complete the PTK Connect institutional profile receive a Transfer Friendliness Rating. The Transfer Honor Roll recognizes the top-performing institutions based on this comprehensive evaluation.

“This recognition is about much more than transfer agreements,” said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. “Successful transfer happens when institutions intentionally design policies, practices, and campus cultures that help students thrive after they arrive. These colleges have demonstrated that transfer student success is not accidental. It is a strategic priority.”

The Transfer Honor Roll has grown into a national benchmark for transfer excellence. This year, 1,117 colleges and universities completed PTK’s institutional profile, providing students with transparent information about transfer opportunities while allowing institutions to benchmark their transfer practices against peers nationwide.

Ferris State is joined on the honor roll by Central Michigan, Northern Michigan, Oakland, and Wayne State universities.

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recognizes the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helps them grow as scholars and leaders.

Recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges as the official honor society for two-year colleges, PTK also serves as the nation’s largest honor society in higher education, with more than 4.5 million members and nearly 1,200 chapters in 11 countries, including approximately 220,000 active members in colleges today.

_{Release and photos courtesy of Ferris State University.}