1. [College research](/) 2. / 3. [Ferris State University](/school/ferris-state-university/) 4. / 5. Career outcomes brief Career outcomes brief Copy linkPrint brief # Ferris State University Career Outcomes & Earnings Updated September 30, 2026 [Overview](/school/ferris-state-university/)[Cost & aid](/school/ferris-state-university/cost/)Outcomes[Admissions](/school/ferris-state-university/admissions/)[Majors](/school/ferris-state-university/majors/)[Similar schools](/school/ferris-state-university/similar/) **On this page**+ ## How much do Ferris State University graduates earn? The reported median is $64,721 four years after completion. The peer comparison uses $57,301 as its benchmark; the difference is $7,420 per year. Graduates of Ferris State University earn about $7,953 more than the model expects for similar students, a result in the 78th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. The part the model attributes to the factors it measures (field of study, enrollment and the local labor market) adds $9,963. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain subtracts $2,010. Within the measured factors, the STEM component adds $2,466. Four years after completion, the median earnings of $64,721 land above the peer median of $57,301 for comparable institutions (same type and size) by $7,420. That places the return pillar in the 73rd percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Earnings that beat both the model and the peer median point to a solid return, even though the institution's own contribution beyond its program mix is a small subtractor. The earnings scenarios at Ferris State University span from a downside of $48,004 to an upside of $87,152 four years after completion. That range reflects the variation in outcomes across the university's 39 programs with published data. The highest-earning programs show the upper end of that spread: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians graduates earn a median of $91,993, Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management graduates earn $91,678, and Construction Management completers reach $90,504. An estimated 21.3% of graduates continue to graduate study, a figure derived from the university's program mix rather than observed enrollment. Because four-year earnings figures capture only those working and not enrolled, this estimate indicates that a sizable portion of completers may be building additional credentials outside the earnings snapshot. **Median earnings · four years after completion** $64,721 **Rank for difference from expectations** 78th percentile Four-year median earnings against two benchmarks **Ferris State University reported median** $64,721 **Peer schools comparable schools · $7,420 below Ferris State University** $57,301 **Model expectation what similar students would be expected to earn · $7,953 below Ferris State University** $56,768 School and program earnings use pooled 2017–18 and 2018–19 completion cohorts, measured in 2022 and 2023 and expressed in 2024 dollars. [How the model works](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/). ## How could earnings differ from the median? The planning scenarios range from $48,004 to $87,152, around the reported median of $64,721. Compare the lower scenario with [Ferris State University borrowing and monthly payments](/school/ferris-state-university/cost/) to see how a smaller income could change your plan. Modeled from the school’s program mix; not salary percentiles or a forecast for one graduate. Earnings four years after completion Planning rangeReported median **Lower estimate** $48,004 **Median · reported** $64,721 **Higher estimate** $87,152 Downside shows a lower-earning scenario based on the college’s mix of programs; upside shows a higher-earning scenario. Typical is the school’s reported median four years after completion. These are planning scenarios, not a forecast of your salary or percentiles of individual graduates. [Why the downside matters](/analysis/median-roi-hides-a-harsh-reality/) explores the risk hidden by medians, using older ten-year entrant data. [Read about the move to four-year earnings](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/). ## Do Ferris State University graduates earn more than expected? Azimuth models what we would expect graduates to earn based on who the college enrolls, how selective it is and its local economy. The difference between that expectation and reported earnings is what Azimuth calls [value added](/methodology/#value-added). Ferris State University graduates’ reported earnings are $7,953 above that expectation, the 78th percentile for this measure. Unlike a peer comparison, it adjusts for who enrolls. The breakdown separates the contribution attributed to observed factors from the remaining difference. Neither component establishes how much attending Ferris State University caused a student to earn. [Read how expected earnings are estimated](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/). What explains value-added earnings? **Program & institutional factors The part attributed to observed institutional characteristics.** +$9,963 **Unexplained remainder What remains after the model’s observed factors.** \-$2,010 **Total modeled value added The modeled difference from expected earnings.** +$7,953 These are statistical model components, not proven causal effects; the remainder is not a direct measure of teaching quality. ## Which fields at Ferris State University report the highest earnings? The five largest programs at Ferris State University show a clear split between higher-earning technical fields and more moderate-earning professional programs. Criminal Justice awards the most degrees, at 249 a year, with median earnings of $60,325 four years after completion. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #23 nationally within its field. Two technical programs sit at the higher end of the earnings range. Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians graduates earn a median of $82,821 from 106 degrees awarded, and Azimuth ranks the program #10 nationally. Nursing posts $81,718 across 107 degrees, with a national rank of #247. At the more moderate end, Design and Applied Arts reports $50,658 from 101 degrees awarded, with a national rank of #68. The spread between the highest- and lowest-earning large programs is wide. Ferris State University publishes earnings data for 39 bachelor's programs, 24 of which hold an Azimuth national rank. The largest program, Criminal Justice, awarded 249 degrees and ranks #23 in its field nationally, with a median of $60,325 four years after completion. Several programs combine strong earnings with high national standing. Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ranks #1 nationally and #1 in Michigan, with 99 degrees awarded. Its median is $91,993 four years after completion. Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations holds a national rank of #3 and a state rank of #1 in Michigan, awarding 25 degrees. Its median earnings are $61,884. Nursing, the third-largest program, ranks #247 nationally, awarded 107 degrees and reports a median of $81,718. Highest reported four-year program earnings **Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians** $91,993 **Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management** $91,678 **Construction Management** $90,504 **Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians** $88,670 **Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians** $86,348 **Computer and Information Sciences, General** $85,131 **Surveying Engineering** $84,958 **Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians** $83,528 [Explore Ferris State University program cohorts and field ranks](/school/ferris-state-university/majors/#largest-cohorts) for more context. ## Further analysis Earnings scenarios grounded in the university's program mix show how earnings vary by field: a downside of $48,004, a typical outcome of $64,721, and an upside of $87,152. Anchoring the range in named programs, Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians graduates earn a median of $91,993 four years after completion, while Design and Applied Arts, one of the largest programs, sits at $50,658. Graduates of Ferris State University earn about $7,953 more than the model expects for similar students, a result that ranks in the 78th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Four years after completion, the median earnings for the 4,016 federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled is $64,721. That figure runs above the median of $57,301 for comparable institutions (same type and size). Earnings scenarios anchored on the university's program mix show a downside scenario of $48,004 and an upside scenario reaching $87,152. An estimated 21.3% of graduates continue to graduate study, a figure estimated from the program mix. ## Data & methodology Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/). Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth. Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source. Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).