Ferris State University
Ferris State University offers hands-on training in various skilled trades, including heavy equipment, manufacturing, and welding, through its institutes and College of Engineering Technology. The university emphasizes practical application and uses field-tested instructors with real-world experience. Ferris State also connects students with employers through career fairs and its Center for Career and Professional Success, aiming for strong job placement outcomes.
Programs Analyzed
Avg Grad Earnings
Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score
Tuition
All Programs at Ferris State University
14 trade programs at Ferris State University, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score (combines earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size). Use the “compare” links to see how this school’s programs stack up against others nationally.
| Program | Score | Earnings | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Business Administration
Business Administration, Management and Operations Compare nationwide → Compare in MI → |
82 | $54,060/yr | $18,325 |
|
Health Administration
Health and Medical Administrative Services Compare nationwide → Compare in MI → |
80 | $68,630/yr | — |
|
Vehicle Repair Technology
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies Compare nationwide → Compare in MI → |
75 | $68,791/yr | $24,479 |
|
Human Development & Family Studies
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Compare nationwide → Compare in MI → |
73 | $49,671/yr | $28,796 |
|
Human Resources
Human Resources Management and Services Compare nationwide → |
69 | $53,029/yr | $17,626 |
|
Welding & Metalworking
Precision Metal Working Compare nationwide → Compare in MI → |
68 | $68,852/yr | $18,439 |
|
Quality Control & Safety Technology
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians Compare nationwide → |
68 | $67,753/yr | $19,594 |
|
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice and Corrections Compare nationwide → Compare in MI → |
68 | $48,203/yr | $18,357 |
|
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians Compare nationwide → |
63 | $62,282/yr | $21,204 |
|
Heavy Equipment Technology
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies Compare nationwide → Compare in MI → |
57 | $55,532/yr | $13,000 |
|
Allied Health Professions
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Compare nationwide → Compare in MI → |
56 | $51,971/yr | $22,000 |
|
Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts and Related Services Compare nationwide → Compare in MI → |
56 | $26,692/yr | $20,500 |
|
Dental Assisting
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Compare nationwide → Compare in MI → |
54 | $49,748/yr | $25,000 |
|
Environmental Technology
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians Compare nationwide → |
53 | $48,795/yr | $10,625 |
Reading the table: Score combines earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size on a 0–100 scale. Earnings = median first-year salary from College Scorecard. Debt = median federal debt at graduation (blank where Scorecard suppresses small samples). 10yr ROI = projected 10-year earnings ÷ in-state tuition. AI Risk reflects task-level AI exposure across mapped occupations. Job Market = annual openings nationwide for connected occupations.
More Trade Schools in Michigan
Top-scored trade schools elsewhere in Michigan, ranked by average TradeSchoolOutlook Score across their programs.
Apprenticeship Pathways in Michigan
Earn-while-you-learn alternatives in Michigan. Registered apprenticeships skip tuition and pay you during training, though training periods are typically longer.
Trade Schools Near Big Rapids
Other cities in Michigan with multiple trade schools, sorted by distance from Big Rapids.
About This Data
TradeSchoolOutlook analyzes 14 trade and vocational programs at Ferris State University using earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024–2034).
The TradeSchoolOutlook Score (0–100) combines graduate earnings, return on investment, AI resilience, and job market size. AI Risk reflects task-level exposure for the occupations each program feeds into. Job Market shows the size of the national hiring pool. Programs without published debt figures had small reporting samples that the College Scorecard suppresses for privacy.