Head-to-head comparison
Michigan State University vs Ferris State University: which has better ROI?
Option A East Lansing, MI
Michigan State University
- Net price / year
- $19,680
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,253
- Payback
- 4.2 yrs
Option B Big Rapids, MI
Ferris State University
- Net price / year
- $8,624
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,735
- Payback
- 5.4 yrs
Michigan State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $78,720 in 4.2 years versus 5.4 years at Ferris State University, on median earnings of $67,253 vs $54,735 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Michigan State University | Ferris State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,680 | $8,624 |
| Total net cost | $78,720 | $34,496 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $67,253 | $54,735 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $21,000 |
| Payback | 4.2 yrs | 5.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $299,140 | $93,004 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Michigan State University or Ferris State University?
Ferris State University, at $8,624 a year after aid versus $19,680 — a gap of $11,056 a year, or $44,224 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Michigan State University or Ferris State University graduates earn more?
Michigan State University graduates report a median $67,253 ten years after entry, $12,518 more than the $54,735 at Ferris State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Michigan State University or Ferris State University?
Ferris State University: its completers carry a median $21,000 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Michigan State University, a difference of $2,250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
81% of students finish at Michigan State University, against 47% at Ferris State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.