Social Work graduates from Ferris State University earn $49,819 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $20,500.
Social Work at Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan • Associate's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Social Work at Ferris State University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Ferris State University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Social Work at the associate's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 24 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Ferris State University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $49,819 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $38,906 across all institutions offering Social Work, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Ferris State University, the mean median-earnings figure is $67,572, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Social Work graduates at Ferris State University is $20,500, which translates to roughly $171 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Social Work at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Brookdale Community College | $57,548 | $12,000 |
| Holyoke Community College | $51,690 | — |
| Community College of Allegheny County | $51,496 | — |
| Austin Community College District | $50,662 | $12,705 |
| Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland Campus | $49,880 | $20,000 |
| Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus | $49,880 | $20,000 |
| Ferris State University (this school) | $49,819 | $20,500 |
| Texas Southmost College | $44,990 | $10,250 |
| Sinclair Community College | $44,586 | — |
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | $43,871 | $18,575 |
Other Programs at Ferris State University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Optometry | $138,837 | $144,874 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $136,836 | $103,000 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $118,364 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $115,819 | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | $106,347 | $56,120 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $91,993 | $23,451 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $91,678 | $22,535 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $91,584 | — |
| Construction Management | $90,504 | $20,468 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $88,737 | — |
Other Schools with Social Work
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.