Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Ferrum College #1381 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,748 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Ferrum College in the 30.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Ferrum College #1463 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Ferrum College #1381 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Ferrum, VA, Ferrum College enrolls roughly 699 undergraduates. Retention is 64.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 31.9%, reflecting the institution's commitment to student completion. Where Ferrum College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Ferrum College #1314 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $46,725. The institution's dominant program family is Health, which aligns with strong regional labor-market demand and contributes to solid long-term financial outcomes for graduates. Access and affordability anchor the institution's profile. Ferrum College sits in the 51.1 percentile for access and the 33.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 54.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 38.8% are first-generation college students, reflecting Ferrum College's role as a pathway institution for students from modest financial backgrounds. Mobility outcomes sit in the 1.1 percentile, indicating that graduates move into stable career pathways and build meaningful economic progress over time.
Published cost of attendance is $54,526. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $16,940, middle-income families pay around $19,967, higher-income families pay approximately $24,346. Azimuth ranks Ferrum College #942 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 33.9 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $35,650. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $46,725, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Ferrum College is a fit for students who want a private nonprofit four-year option in VA and are weighing outcomes against cost. Azimuth ranks Ferrum College #1378 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $46,725, placing Ferrum College in the 8.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,748 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 30.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $54,526. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $16,940, middle-income families pay around $19,967, higher-income families pay approximately $24,346. Students should weigh those current cost and earnings figures against the school's program mix before treating the fit as primarily an earnings, affordability, or access story.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Ferrum College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Corrections Administration
6 graduates
Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping
8 graduates
Environmental Science
10 graduates
Agricultural Teacher Education
19 graduates
Psychology, General
6 graduates
Ferrum College structures its academic portfolio around Health and applied professional fields. The largest programs by enrollment are Health/Medical Preparatory Programs with 26 graduates, followed by Subject-Specific Teacher Education with 19 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $42,664, Biology, General with 13 graduates, Natural Resources Conservation and Research with 10 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $49,527, and Accounting with 8 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $60,070.
Across 0 ranked programs, several deliver solid earnings outcomes aligned with the institution's regional and professional focus. The highest-earning programs at Ferrum College reflect strength in health and applied fields.
Accounting leads with median 4-year earnings of $60,070 for 8 graduates, followed by Natural Resources Conservation and Research with median 4-year earnings of $49,527 for 10 graduates, Subject-Specific Teacher Education with median 4-year earnings of $42,664 for 19 graduates, and Psychology, General with median 4-year earnings of $37,841 for 6 graduates. These programs represent direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter stable, in-demand roles in healthcare, education, and business sectors.
The program-mix signature reflects Business at 12%, Education at 12%, and Social Sciences at 2%, positioning Ferrum College as a career-focused institution anchored in applied health and professional disciplines. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional labor-market demand and long-term employment stability.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Holy Cross College Similar quality tier (#36160 ranked) | IN | 75% | $50,416 | #36160 | Compare |
Saint Norbert College Similar quality tier (#36163 ranked) | WI | 86% | $58,363 | #36163 | Compare |
Bethany College Similar quality tier (#36164 ranked) | KS | 56% | $49,694 | #36164 | Compare |
Freed-Hardeman University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#36165 ranked) | TN | 60% | $47,485 | #36165 | Compare |
Hannibal-Lagrange University Similar quality tier (#36158 ranked) | MO | 73% | $42,643 | #36158 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Published cost of attendance is $54,526. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $16,940, middle-income families pay around $19,967, higher-income families pay approximately $24,346.
Azimuth ranks Ferrum College #942 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 33.9 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $35,650.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $46,725, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Graduates of Ferrum College earn median 4-year earnings of $46,725, placing Ferrum College in the 8.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,748 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Ferrum College in the 30.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Ferrum College #1314 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio centers on health-related fields, which anchor both enrollment and earnings outcomes.
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs is the largest program with 26 graduates, followed by Subject-Specific Teacher Education with 19 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $42,664. The Biology, General program graduates 13 students, while Natural Resources Conservation and Research with 10 graduates earns median 4-year earnings of $49,527, and Accounting with 8 graduates reaches median 4-year earnings of $60,070.
This concentration in Health fields reflects the institution's academic focus and shapes the overall earnings trajectory for its graduate population.
