Social Work at Ferris State University

Ferris State's social work program lands squarely in the middle tier—earning above the national median but trailing Michigan's top performers by a noticeable margin. While first-year graduates earn $38,870 (beating the $37,296 national average), they make about $2,000 less annually than peers at University of Michigan-Flint or Wayne State. At 60th percentile among Michigan programs, this represents solid but unremarkable performance in a state with 23 competing options.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $27,500, graduates carry manageable obligations with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71—meaning less than one year's salary to repay. This beats many social work programs nationally (38th percentile for debt) and aligns closely with both state and national medians. The 13% earnings bump by year four suggests reasonable career progression, though social work salaries generally remain modest regardless of institution.

For families watching costs, this represents a functional path into a helping profession without excessive financial burden. However, if your student gained admission to Wayne State or U-M Flint, those programs deliver $1,000-1,500 more annually for similar debt levels—a meaningful difference over a career. Ferris works best for students prioritizing the smaller-campus environment of Big Rapids or those who need the accessibility of an 81% admission rate.