Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Ferris State University

Ferris State's Liberal Arts program posts first-year earnings of $38,583—roughly $2,000 above the national average for this major and solidly middle-of-the-pack among Michigan schools. While programs at Spring Arbor and Siena Heights start $6,000-$9,000 higher, Ferris keeps pace with larger public universities like UM-Ann Arbor, and graduates carry notably less debt than the state average ($29,852 vs. $30,254).

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77 is reasonable for a general studies degree, suggesting most graduates should be able to manage their loans on entry-level salaries. This is a broad-access program at a school serving a significant population of first-generation and working-class students (34% receive Pell grants), and the outcomes reflect steady, if unspectacular, performance. The moderate sample size means these numbers represent a real cohort, not a statistical fluke.

For families looking at liberal arts programs in Michigan, Ferris delivers predictable results: middle-tier earnings with below-average debt. If your student is choosing between similar regional public universities, the outcomes here are competitive. But if they're comparing this to more vocational programs at Ferris itself—where the school has stronger historical strengths—that's worth exploring before committing.