Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies at Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI · Public · Associate Degree · Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies

Ferris State University accepts 81% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 8,087 students in Big Rapids, MI.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $55,532/yr, edging above the $51,528 national average for Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

The 29.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 11% task exposure — and the 29% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies graduates.

At $13,000 in median debt against $55,532 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #49 out of 80 programs, Ferris State University's financial outcomes for Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $55,532 to $76,779 shows 38% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

With 67 registered apprenticeships mapped to Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

57 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
54
Low End
57
Score
57
High End
Earnings $55,532/yr (8% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (89% shielded)
Job Market Large (80,400 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$821K
8.4% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
30.1x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
9 of 9
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition
$27,260
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,000
2.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$76,779
38% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers $106,580 +5.0% 82%
Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door $74,690 +1.3% 87%
Rail car repairers $65,680 +2.8% 90%
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
$106,580
+5.0% growth 82% AI-proof
Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
$74,690
+1.3% growth 87% AI-proof
Rail car repairers
$65,680
+2.8% growth 90% AI-proof

View all 9 career paths with full salary data →

About Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies Careers

Your career will be built on keeping the world moving. One day you might be on a factory floor, diagnosing a malfunctioning robotic arm with a laptop and precision tools; the next, you could be in the field, troubleshooting the hydraulics on a massive excavator. As an industrial machinery or mobile heavy equipment mechanic, you'll be the expert who gets critical, multi-ton machines back online.

Read the full Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies career guide →

Compare & Explore

Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies Overview

Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies at Other Schools

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Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ferris State University's Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies program score?
A score of 57/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Ferris State University trails the majority of Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Will AI replace Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies jobs?
Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies rates as "AI-Proof" for AI resilience. With only 11% of tasks exposed to automation, the trade's physical demands provide a natural shield against AI displacement.
What's the typical debt for Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies graduates from Ferris State University?
Median debt of just $13,000 against $55,532/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Are there apprenticeship options for Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies?
Yes — 67 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies career paths, including Accessibility And Private Residence Lift Technician. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
How many job openings are there for Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies graduates?
The career paths mapped to Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies have roughly 80,400 combined annual openings nationally, making this a large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →