December 17, 2025
Ferris State’s Automotive Engineering Technology program helps Bulldogs earn more while ranked best in the nation
Ferris State University’s Automotive Engineering Technology program is ranked No. 1 in the nation, according to a recent study by College Factual that lists the 2025 Best Automotive Engineering Technology Schools.
Dan Meyers, the director of School of Automotive and Heavy Equipment, said the program works closely with industry leaders to ensure students have in-demand skills.
“The ranking is an awesome recognition; however, it is not a surprise,” Meyers said. “The AET program boasts amazing attributes such as outstanding faculty, relevant curriculum, and an unmatched legacy exemplified by highly successful alumni… It also transforms students from aspiring professionals into industry-ready leaders who are prepared to make a difference in the automotive industry.”
Multiple factors support that claim. Ferris State’s College of Engineering Technology is the largest in the country, while the AET program, specifically, is nation’s largest and most renowned.
With a bachelor’s degree being the highest degree type students can earn in this program, College Factual’s study states that the AET program is the most popular in Michigan.
As an AET professor and program coordinator at Ferris State, Patrick English said the program works hard for the recognition because it recognizes its quality.
“It's a great honor to be ranked as first in the nation and in Michigan and it shows that our approach to automotive engineering technology is what employers want,” English said. “It also shows that the work we put into the program is being noticed and the more of our graduates that are employed in the industry the greater the demand is for them as their capabilities become known to more employers.”
With different industries constantly leaning on advancements in technology, English says that having students prepared to be ahead of the curve is critical functional for Bulldogs earning more.
“We are successfully keeping pace with technology and making sure the degree contains the elements that are in need to be successful in the automotive engineering technology jobs,” he said.
One of the best ways of guaranteeing that reality is equipping the AET program with hands-on resources that students can learn from and apply that experience to their future careers.
“The Ferris AET degree provides students with a full and thorough education in automotive technology where they are fully capable of working in an independent garage or a dealership,” English said. “Once the student is fully capable as a technician, they are then provided within engineering education second to none.
“This approach is unique to Ferris State University, but it produces students who have the greatest number of employment opportunities working with automotive technology. This degree is also important for students who are interested in working with the technology of the automobile but not necessarily interested in being a technician in a bay. Our graduates are employed in a wide range of titles where they test vehicle emissions, safety, component endurance, or are engaged in failure analysis work.”
Ferris State continues to maintain itself as a top academic university in multiple fields of study when compared to local and national peers. Even still, English recognizes that the effort to being one of the best programs never stops.
Collaborating with external organizations, including the Society of Automotive Engineers, can help provide up-to-date certification, technology, and similar opportunities, to help support that constant effort. It also depends on the success of internal decisions.
“We will continue to work closely with our advisory committee to ensure that the degree continues to track the needs of business and industry (and) ensure that our students are receiving an education with maximum benefit relevant for today's world,” he said. “We are currently working on providing some new equipment and introducing computer programs that are used in industry and will be an excellent addition to the program.”