November 19, 2025

Ferris State’s Mechanical Engineering Technology program ranked the best in Michigan, top three nationally

Ferris State University’s mechanical engineering technology program is a prime example of how Bulldogs earn more in the classroom and in the professional world.

College Factual’s recent study for the 2025 Best Mechanical Engineering Technology listed Ferris State’s MET program as No. 1 in Michigan and the third-best in the country. The rankings put Ferris State in the top five percent of the United States in this field of study.

“We’re proud of what we’ve built in this program,” said Andrew Wiltshire, Director of the School of Engineering and Computing Technology. “We place a lot of emphasis on what we’re doing, and we go out with boots on the ground to speak with supervisors of our interns and new grads, to continually look for improvement points.”

According to College Factual, students who receive a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering at Ferris State average a median salary of $66,747, while “mechanical engineering technology students who get their degree from Ferris State University earn $7,947 more than the standard me tech student.”

College Factual is an online platform that provides data-driven insights and rankings to help students choose a college based on factors like cost, value, and quality.

While considering the question of how Ferris State is an opportunity university, Wiltshire said the MET program is “in the business” of making sure students not only receive a great education, but a good financial living almost immediately after college.

“There are stigmas around college as far as ‘is it going to be worth the investment’; the starting salaries that our students come out of the gate with is really impressive,” Wiltshire said.

Separating oneself from their peers isn’t always easy for students, primarily when it comes to gaining professional experience before entering the workforce.

The MET classrooms are equipped with hands-on resources and laboratories that simulate real-world projects, which create opportunities for Bulldogs to gain said experience before they graduate from Ferris State.

“Our graduates hit the ground running and aren’t afraid to get on the shop floor,” Wiltshire said. “Our program is highly lab-intensive; in fact, that’s one of our selling points, that it’s hands-on and not just theoretical.”

Wiltshire recognizes that even successful programs can have their limitations. Although he and the MET faculty members always look for ways to expand, he says undergoing expansion needs to happen strategically.

“We have a lot of headwinds in place, but there’s issues with high school graduation rates,” Wiltshire said. “One thing we’re up against right now is the community college guarantee. I’m focusing on transfer pathways with community colleges (and) things that provide them with the outcome students want at the end of the day.

“I definitely see us continuing to grow, and serving what our industry partners are looking for. There’s a lot of changes in technology taking place. We have to stay current in terms of what we’re teaching, with curriculum and equipment that students are learning on.”

Artificial intelligence is ever-present in most job sectors, especially technology. As AI continues to grow, Wiltshire realizes that finding a way to harness it to benefit students and professionals in mechanical engineering is the best scenario.

“In our line of work, it’s not the same discussion with AI, this is using AI for machine learning, and what things are going to take place in the industry,” Wiltshire said. “We can’t stifle that… We have to somehow harness that; it’s a big time part of computer programming, which our students get involved in.”

Across the board, Wiltshire recognizes there’s much to be proud of regarding the success of the MET program. From leading the senior capstone course, to making prospective students aware that a successful program exists in their own backyard, he says providing a quality education for students through proven leaders is at the top of the list.

“We pride ourselves on faculty who are required to have industry experience; I think that’s really huge from a student experience standpoint,” Wiltshire said. “There’s faculty that can share real life stories of how things were done in the industry.

“The faculty here are really what’s driving this (program to success),” Wiltshire continued. “We have people from all different industry backgrounds, different degrees they bring it, so it really gives students well-rounded opportunities as far as who’s teaching the classes.”