Ferris State University

Ferris State University's program mix is anchored in applied-professional and career-oriented fields, with Business as the dominant program family. Business accounts for 22% of graduates, followed by Arts at 7% and Education at 5% — a distribution that reflects the university's identity as a career-focused public institution in western Michigan.

Across 47 programs serving roughly 1,884 students annually, 35 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. Criminal Justice combines strong enrollment with solid earnings, making it a key driver of the institution's overall financial outcomes.

Among the largest programs, Criminal Justice program graduates 249 students annually with median earnings of $60,325 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #22 nationally for median earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Business Administration program graduates 181 students with median earnings of $64,131, while The Nursing program graduates 107 students earning $81,718.

On the earnings side, Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians leads with median earnings of $91,993 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #2 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions. Construction Management follows at $90,504, and Azimuth ranks Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians #9 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with median earnings of $82,821.

The strongest earnings at Ferris State University cluster in health-related and technical fields where graduates enter the workforce directly with credentials aligned to employer demand. Programs like Nursing and Business Administration — with median earnings of $81,718 and $64,131 respectively — reflect pathways where four-year earnings capture real labor-market outcomes rather than undercounting graduates bound for additional schooling.

The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides broader context for how these applied fields align with national hiring trends, and the [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) explains how Azimuth evaluates programs across cohort scale, earnings, and benchmark performance. ```

Ferris State University's published cost of attendance is $27,048, but need-based aid meaningfully reduces what most families pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $2,556, middle-income families pay around $7,638, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,603.

Azimuth ranks Ferris State University #125 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Ferris State participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans. The gap between sticker price and what students actually pay reflects the university's aid reach across income levels — though families should review their specific aid offer carefully, as the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) can make published costs look more daunting than the actual out-of-pocket figure.

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,849; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,721, median federal debt of $21,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $237 under standard ten-year repayment.

For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Ferris State University earn median 4-year earnings of $64,721, placing Ferris State University in the 64.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,137 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 84.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Ferris State University #403 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.

Criminal Justice and Corrections reports 249 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $60,325, ranked #25 nationally in its major. Business Administration, Management and Operations reports 181 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $64,131, ranked #213 nationally in its major.

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing reports 107 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $81,718, ranked #248 nationally in its major. Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians reports 106 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $82,821, ranked #11 nationally in its major.