Ferrum College
#6 Best Education Colleges in Virginia- Graduation Rate
- 30% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,296 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $20,082 C-
- 17% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 89% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 14.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.1 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Education Colleges in Virginia.
Every $1 spent returns $14.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,050,995.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 30% — 47% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $14.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Ferrum College Matters
Ferrum College is a private college in Ferrum, VA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 699
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- 71
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Ferrum College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 89% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $20,082 a year after grants and scholarships — 17% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,296 ten years after enrolling — 9% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 42% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.43 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Ferrum College is a solid choice for students who seek a close-knit community and a more personalized education experience. With an enrollment of 699 students and an acceptance rate of 89%, it caters to those looking for a welcoming atmosphere. Students can dive into a variety of fields, including Health Professions, Criminal Justice, Business & Marketing, Education, and Humanities, making it a versatile option for diverse interests.
Looking at life after graduation, the average earnings for Ferrum graduates ten years post-degree stand at $44,296. This figure gives us a glimpse into the financial landscape students might expect. While the graduation rate is only 30%, it’s worth noting that a significant portion of students—54%—receive Pell Grants, which indicates the college's commitment to supporting students from lower-income backgrounds. This financial aid can help ease the burden as students transition into their careers.
When it comes to the practicalities, the net price after aid is around $20,082, and the median debt for graduates is $27,000. These numbers highlight the importance of planning for future financial obligations. Students who thrive here often appreciate a supportive environment and the opportunity to engage deeply with their chosen fields. For those who seek a place where they can grow academically while receiving individualized attention, Ferrum College may just be the right fit.
Rankings
- #6 Best Education Colleges in Virginia
- #11 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Virginia
- #17 Best Nursing Colleges in Virginia
- #19 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Virginia
- #24 Best Computer Science Colleges in Virginia
- #24 Best Data Science Colleges in Virginia
- #24 Best Online Education Programs in Virginia
- #29 Best Online Nursing Programs in Virginia
Can I Get In?
How selective Ferrum College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Ferrum College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Ferrum, Virginia, Ferrum College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 89%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 21. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Retention Rate
- 64%
- ACT Midpoint
- 21
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,763
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.71
- First-Gen Students
- 39%
- Applicants
- 1,452
- Admitted
- 1,224
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ferrum College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ferrum College is $28,520, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,082. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,940 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $28,520
- Out-of-State
- $28,520
- Avg Net Price
- $20,082
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 54%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 85%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $16,940
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $16,493
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,967
- Family Income $110K+
- $24,346
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Ferrum College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Ferrum College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ferrum College report median earnings of $44,296, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,418
- 8 Years
- $41,107
- 10 Years
- $44,296
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.61x
- Earning > $25K
- 53%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (96)
- 19%
- 100% (96)
- 19%
- 100% (96)
- 19%
- 100% (96)
- 19%
How Ferrum Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Ferrum College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Ferrum College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $20,082/year ($80,328 total). Graduates earn $44,296 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,131,323 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,050,995 (14.1× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 30% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $80,328
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,131,323
- Net Return
- $1,050,995
- ROI Multiple
- 14.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $20,082
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 30%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Ferrum College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Ferrum College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.61%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $71,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.61%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 14.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 11.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $96,600
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $6,967,214
- Investment Income
- $-8,086,826
Top Programs
The fields Ferrum College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Education 17% $36,562 early-career
- Business & Marketing 16%
- Health Professions 16% $30,159 early-career
- Criminal Justice 8% $40,390 early-career
- Psychology 6% $29,935 early-career
- Humanities 5%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Biology & Biomedical 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Ferrum College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Ferrum College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Ferrum, Virginia, Ferrum College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 89%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 21. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ferrum College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ferrum College is $28,520, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,082. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,940 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Ferrum College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ferrum College report median earnings of $44,296, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Ferrum College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Ferrum College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.61%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $71,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Ferrum College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Ferrum College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.43, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Ferrum College.
- Keystone CollegeLa Plume, PA · Close peer38% grad $44,976 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Graceland University-LamoniLamoni, IA · Close peer40% grad $47,361 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Pfeiffer UniversityMisenheimer, NC · Close peer39% grad $51,562 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Wilson CollegeChambersburg, PA · Close peer50% grad $43,326 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Brewton-Parker Christian UniversityMount Vernon, GA · Close peer22% grad $42,009 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Shorter UniversityRome, GA · Close peer37% grad $44,604 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Ferrum College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Ferrum College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.43, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note