75% of Ferris State University students earn more than a typical U.S. high-school graduate (about $28,000/yr) ten years after starting — measured from IRS tax records, not surveys.
Cumulative net gain over a high-school-only earner at different career lengths, with tuition and debt interest already subtracted. Built on IRS-verified federal earnings — not self-reported surveys.
Who the college serves and whether the payoff reaches everyone — earnings ten years after starting (IRS-linked), with access measures from federal enrollment data.
By gender
Women
$48,206
Men
$63,344
24% gap between the two groups
By family-income background
From lower-income families
$47,260
From higher-income families
$61,281
23% gap between the two groups
By student status (FAFSA)
Dependent students
$53,784
Independent students
$57,262
6% gap between the two groups
35%
First-generation students
43%
Take federal student loans
96%
Born in the U.S.
Who studies here
White 73%Hispanic 7%Asian 2%Black 10%Other 8%
Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.
Net price by family income
What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by household income as of 2024.
Family income
Average net price / yr
Family income $0–$30k
$2,556
$30k–$48k
$4,315
$48k–$75k
$7,638
$75k–$110k
$12,485
$110k+
$18,603
How Ferris State University compares
This college against the Michigan and national averages — higher earnings and lower cost/debt are better.
Graduate earnings over time
Median earnings of Ferris State University students 10 years after entering, by cohort year as of 2024.
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Best-paying majors at Ferris State University
Fields of study ranked by their own ROI — earnings five years after graduating against the cost and debt. Click a major for the deep dive.
Degree Return is an independent informational service. ROI figures are estimates based on past student cohorts; individual earnings vary widely. This is not financial, legal, or admissions advice. We never compute ROI where federal data is missing.
Degree Return is an independent project and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education, NCES, any college, or any government agency. Source data is public domain.
Data as of 2024 · sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.