Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degree) at Ferris State University

Median Earnings (1yr)

$50,089

48th percentile

40th percentile in Michigan

Median Debt

$27,000

1% above national median

Analysis

Ferris State's Human Resources program produces graduates earning within a few hundred dollars of both national and state medians—but that makes it middle-of-the-pack in a Michigan HR market where several programs deliver significantly stronger outcomes. At $50,089 first-year earnings, graduates trail the state median by about $500 and fall in just the 40th percentile statewide. When nearby Michigan State places HR graduates at $56,501 and U-M Dearborn at nearly $56,000, that gap represents roughly $6,000 in first-year earnings that compounds over time.

The debt picture is reasonable but unremarkable: $27,000 matches both the Michigan and national medians exactly, creating a 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable but not impressive. For a program at an accessible state institution (81% admission rate, serving a solid portion of Pell grant students), these numbers suggest competent preparation without standout placement outcomes.

The challenge here is opportunity cost within Michigan. If your child can access programs like MSU or even regional alternatives like Davenport ($51,681), they'd start their career with meaningfully higher earnings for similar debt loads. Ferris serves its students adequately, but unless there are compelling personal reasons to attend—location, specific faculty connections, or campus fit—stronger in-state options exist for families comparison shopping HR programs.

Where Ferris State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all human resources management and services bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Ferris State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Michigan

Human Resources Management and Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Michigan (19 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids	$13,630	$50,089	—	$27,000	0.54
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor	$17,228	$82,714	$92,289	$14,225	0.17
Concordia University Ann ArborAnn Arbor	$34,200	$58,982	$60,257	$37,050	0.63
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing	$15,988	$56,501	$80,270	$23,475	0.42
University of Michigan-DearbornDearborn	$14,944	$55,944	—	$22,831	0.41
Davenport UniversityGrand Rapids	$23,324	$51,681	$57,458	$31,112	0.60
National Median	—	$50,361	—	$26,625	0.53

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with human resources management and services graduates

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Labor Relations Specialists

Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.

$93,500/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Law Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Coroners

Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Ferris State University, approximately 34% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 30 graduates with reported earnings and 34 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.