Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians at Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeWorth Score (Base Case)
67
Optimistic
67
Base Case
65
Pessimistic
Earnings
$67,764/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk
Moderate (22% exposed)
Job Market
Medium (19,100 openings/yr)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $968K | $740K | $587K |
| Earnings Multiple | 17.8x | 13.6x | 10.8x |
| Viable Career Paths | 6 of 6 | 6 of 6 | 6 of 6 |
| DegreeWorth Score | 67 | 67 | 65 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition
$54,520
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,750
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$91,184
35% growth from Year 1
Career Paths
Where Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 19,100 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay | $100,940 | 2,000 | +5.5% | 34% |
| Power plant operators | $99,670 | 2,500 | -11.2% | 10% |
| Commercial and industrial designers | $79,450 | 2,500 | +3.2% | 47% |
| Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other | $77,390 | 5,700 | +1.5% | 24% |
| Wind turbine service technicians | $62,580 | 2,300 | +49.9% | 4% |
| Solar photovoltaic installers | $51,860 | 4,100 | +42.1% | 11% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeWorth Score for Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians at Ferris State University?
This program scores 67/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI disruption risk, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 67 (optimistic) to 65 (pessimistic) depending on AI's impact.
How does AI affect Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians career prospects?
We model three scenarios: Optimistic (no disruption), Base Case (gradual AI adoption), and Pessimistic (aggressive AI displacement). In the base case, Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians graduates retain 6 of 6 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $586,693 (pessimistic) to $967,953 (optimistic).
How many job openings are there for Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians graduates?
The career paths mapped to Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians have roughly 19,100 combined job openings per year nationally, making this a medium job market.
Is Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians at Ferris State University worth it?
In the Base Case, this degree earns 13.6x its in-state tuition over 10 years. Even in the Pessimistic scenario, the multiple is 10.8x. The spread between scenarios tells you how sensitive this degree is to AI disruption.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections.
"Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI.
Last updated 2025.