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Specialized Sales at Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $46,695/yr (27% vs median)

AI Risk High (43% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (499,600 openings/yr)

ROI 10.3x earnings multiple

Ranked #3 of 42 Specialized Sales programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Specialized Sales graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$570K	$562K	$518K
Earnings Multiple	10.5x	10.3x	9.5x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	45%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	65	64	61

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$54,520

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$48,808

10% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,500

6.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,321

31% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $46,695 put Ferris State University's Specialized Sales program 27% above the national median of $36,662 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Specialized Sales programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Specialized Sales's typical career paths, with 43% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,500 represents roughly 7 months of the $46,695 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #3 of 42 programs, Ferris State University's Specialized Sales program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $46,695 to $61,321 over five years — a 31% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Ferris State University

Ferris State University accepts 81% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 8,087 in Big Rapids, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Ferris State University →

Top Career Paths

Marketing managers $161,030/yr

Models $89,990/yr

First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers $84,130/yr

View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Specialized Sales at Other Schools

Other Majors at Ferris State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Specialized Sales at Ferris State University?

A score of 64/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Specialized Sales field.

Will AI replace Specialized Sales careers?

With 43% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $518,156 in decade earnings vs $570,445 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →