Nonlinear fermions of degree $n$ ($n$-fermions) are introduced as particles with creation and annihilation operators obeying the simple nonlinear anticommutation relation $AA^dagger + {A^dagger}^n A^n = 1$. The ($n+1$)-order nilpotency of these operators follows from the existence of unique $A$-vacuum. Supposing appropreate ($n+1$)-order nilpotent para-Grassmann variables and integration rules the sets of $n$-fermion number states, right and left ladder operator coherent states (CS) and displacement-operator-like CS are constructed. The $(n+1)times(n+1)$ matrix realization of the related para-Grassmann algebra is provided. General $(n+1)$-order nilpotent ladder operators of finite dimensional systems are expressed as polynomials in terms of $n$-fermion operators. Overcomplete sets of (normalized) right and left eigenstates of such general ladder operators are constructed and their properties briefly discussed.