Surveying Engineering at Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeWorth Score (Base Case)
68
Optimistic
68
Base Case
63
Pessimistic
Earnings
$72,931/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk
High (48% exposed)
Job Market
Large (32,800 openings/yr)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Surveying Engineering graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $836K | $713K | $542K |
| Earnings Multiple | 15.3x | 13.1x | 9.9x |
| Viable Career Paths | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| DegreeWorth Score | 68 | 68 | 63 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition
$54,520
Career Paths
Where Surveying Engineering graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 32,800 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and engineering managers | $167,740 | 14,500 | +3.8% | 41% |
| Engineers, all other | $117,750 | 9,300 | +2.1% | 46% |
| Engineering teachers, postsecondary | $106,120 | 4,100 | +8.1% | 50% |
| Cartographers and photogrammetrists | $78,380 | 1,000 | +6.4% | 52% |
| Surveyors | $72,740 | 3,900 | +4.4% | 53% |
Compare & Explore
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeWorth Score for Surveying Engineering at Ferris State University?
This program scores 68/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI disruption risk, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 68 (optimistic) to 63 (pessimistic) depending on AI's impact.
How does AI affect Surveying Engineering career prospects?
We model three scenarios: Optimistic (no disruption), Base Case (gradual AI adoption), and Pessimistic (aggressive AI displacement). In the base case, Surveying Engineering graduates retain 5 of 5 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $541,511 (pessimistic) to $836,071 (optimistic).
How many job openings are there for Surveying Engineering graduates?
The career paths mapped to Surveying Engineering have roughly 32,800 combined job openings per year nationally, making this a large job market.
Is Surveying Engineering at Ferris State University worth it?
In the Base Case, this degree earns 13.1x its in-state tuition over 10 years. Even in the Pessimistic scenario, the multiple is 9.9x. 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.