Back to Colleges
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI 8,087 Undergrads 59.9% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$26,066
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,202
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,735
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$12,202
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$54,735
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate59.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time80.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.2%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
80.6%
SAT Avg
1,001
SAT Reading
25th: 45052575th: 570
SAT Math
25th: 44051575th: 550
ACT Composite
25th: 182375th: 26
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$475k
+$79k
-$9k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$431k
+$35k
-$53k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$382k
-$15k
-$103k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-121%
Full Cost$26k/yr
Never
-110%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-98%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-76%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$18,325
Earnings (5yr)
$78,554
Lifetime Value Added
+$353k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
CertCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$28,796
Earnings (5yr)
$61,396
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Human Resources Management and Services
CertCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$17,626
Earnings (5yr)
$57,829
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$18,439
Earnings (5yr)
$78,109
Lifetime Value Added
+$348k
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1507
Median Debt
$19,594
Earnings (5yr)
$87,388
Lifetime Value Added
+$437k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$24,479
Earnings (5yr)
$93,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$492k
Associate's Degrees
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,524
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1501
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,697
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Biological and Physical Sciences
AssocCIP: 3001
Median Debt
$18,853
Earnings (5yr)
$101,376
Lifetime Value Added
+$477k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$75,121
Lifetime Value Added
+$246k
Construction Engineering Technologies
AssocCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$89,155
Lifetime Value Added
+$370k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$18,357
Earnings (5yr)
$62,783
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,192
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,167
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1505
Median Debt
$10,625
Earnings (5yr)
$71,572
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$24,950
Earnings (5yr)
$53,875
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies
AssocCIP: 4703
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$76,779
Lifetime Value Added
+$261k
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1506
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (5yr)
$84,172
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1508
Median Debt
$15,580
Earnings (5yr)
$79,895
Lifetime Value Added
+$288k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$16,303
Earnings (5yr)
$82,902
Lifetime Value Added
+$315k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,273
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$27,444
Earnings (5yr)
$66,958
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,720
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,041
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
$22,833
Earnings (5yr)
$39,220
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1002
Median Debt
$21,997
Earnings (5yr)
$38,947
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$70,852
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$19,799
Earnings (5yr)
$64,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$26,581
Earnings (5yr)
$69,970
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$27,209
Earnings (5yr)
$76,029
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
BachCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$22,535
Earnings (5yr)
$80,089
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Construction Management
BachCIP: 5220
Median Debt
$20,468
Earnings (5yr)
$92,831
Lifetime Value Added
+$246k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$58,694
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,226
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$43,252
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$88,081
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1517
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$91,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$234k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,041
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$25,961
Earnings (5yr)
$35,717
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Graphic Communications
BachCIP: 1003
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,604
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,617
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,054
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies
BachCIP: 4703
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$80,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$26,622
Earnings (5yr)
$35,667
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$23,120
Earnings (5yr)
$35,302
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1506
Median Debt
$23,451
Earnings (5yr)
$90,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$23,646
Earnings (5yr)
$43,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Manufacturing Engineering
BachCIP: 1436
Median Debt
$16,052
Earnings (5yr)
$77,154
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$24,995
Earnings (5yr)
$75,891
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1508
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (5yr)
$86,204
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,789
Earnings (5yr)
$44,872
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$22,504
Earnings (5yr)
$53,599
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$21,411
Earnings (5yr)
$81,858
Lifetime Value Added
+$164k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$45,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,915
Earnings (5yr)
$46,935
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations
BachCIP: 5219
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,321
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$24,817
Earnings (5yr)
$49,092
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,907
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Master's Degrees
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$23,810
Earnings (5yr)
$59,104
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$99,271
Lifetime Value Added
+$411k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,600
Earnings (5yr)
$60,146
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Graduate Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$101,789
Lifetime Value Added
+$525k
Professional Degrees
Optometry
ProfCIP: 5117
Median Debt
$144,874
Earnings (5yr)
$114,922
Lifetime Value Added
+$361k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
ProfCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$103,000
Earnings (5yr)
$144,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$572k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.