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Montana State University

⌖ Bozeman, MT · 52 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff

−$118,536 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.

17.8 yrsModeled economic break-even
−44%Modeled 10-year ROI
$60,146Observed earnings · year 5
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$118,536at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$269,9960
2
4
6
8
−$118,53610
Years after graduationBreak-even: 17.8 years
FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$8,460
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$33,287
Sticker price
Average net price$22,499
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$25,905
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$22,499Average net price / year
$25,905Cost of attendance
$60,146Median earnings · year 5 after completion
57.1%Completion rate
82.1%Admission rate
14,451Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

80thEarnings percentile
48thCompletion percentile
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$44,828Year 1
$65,157Year 4
$60,146Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Doctoral Degree$126,8942Computer Science · Bachelor's Degree$111,7283Computer Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$99,4114Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$98,3315Accounting and Related Services · Master's Degree$92,6896Construction Engineering Technology/Technician · Bachelor's Degree$89,0027Mechanical Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$88,6538Industrial Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$88,087

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in MT

Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.

Havre, MT

Montana State University-Northern

Annual net price
$12,664
Observed earnings · year 5
$60,389
Modeled 10-year ROI
-33%
Open college profile →Billings, MT

Montana State University Billings

Annual net price
$16,524
Observed earnings · year 5
$52,028
Modeled 10-year ROI
-71%
Open college profile →Helena, MT

Helena College University of Montana

Annual net price
$11,593
Observed earnings · year 5
$51,936
Modeled 10-year ROI
-69%
Open college profile →Butte, MT

Montana Technological University

Annual net price
$16,481
Observed earnings · year 5
$73,365
Modeled 10-year ROI
+15%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingDoctoral Degree$126,894Not available
Computer ScienceBachelor's Degree$111,728$22,500
Computer EngineeringBachelor's Degree$99,411$30,500
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringBachelor's Degree$98,331$20,995
Accounting and Related ServicesMaster's Degree$92,689Not available
Construction Engineering Technology/TechnicianBachelor's Degree$89,002$27,044
Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$88,653$25,011
Industrial EngineeringBachelor's Degree$88,087$26,000
Chemical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$87,590$25,130
Architectural Sciences and TechnologyMaster's Degree$87,162Not available
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and PolicyMaster's Degree$83,329Not available
Civil EngineeringBachelor's Degree$82,785$21,031
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$80,089$27,500
Agricultural Business and ManagementBachelor's Degree$79,621$20,000
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$76,146$28,000
Air TransportationAssociate's Degree$74,026Not available
ArchitectureMaster's Degree$71,784Not available
Business/Commerce, GeneralBachelor's Degree$71,578$23,000
Educational Administration and SupervisionMaster's Degree$70,130Not available
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical SciencesBachelor's Degree$66,498$23,625
MathematicsBachelor's Degree$65,731$24,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasMaster's Degree$64,655Not available
Architectural Sciences and TechnologyBachelor's Degree$64,133$25,500
Curriculum and InstructionMaster's Degree$62,976Not available
MathematicsMaster's Degree$62,651Not available
EconomicsBachelor's Degree$62,511$25,500
Microbiological Sciences and ImmunologyBachelor's Degree$60,221$22,065
Environmental DesignBachelor's Degree$57,668Not available
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesBachelor's Degree$55,352$23,250
Precision Metal WorkingUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$54,930Not available
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$53,623$22,977
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$52,702$25,000
HistoryBachelor's Degree$52,187$22,500
Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$51,285$20,540
Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyMaster's Degree$51,264Not available
Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$50,711$24,750
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesBachelor's Degree$49,241$22,250
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchBachelor's Degree$48,646$27,040
SociologyBachelor's Degree$48,273$22,250
English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$47,757$20,472
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate's Degree$47,396$11,500
Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's Degree$46,741$26,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasBachelor's Degree$46,657$24,000
Animal SciencesBachelor's Degree$46,313$24,034
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesBachelor's Degree$45,975$27,036
Allied Health and Medical Assisting ServicesUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$45,679Not available
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree$45,523$26,000
Plant SciencesBachelor's Degree$45,392$20,500
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsBachelor's Degree$45,300$24,495
Sustainability StudiesBachelor's Degree$41,979Not available
MusicBachelor's Degree$39,920Not available
Design and Applied ArtsAssociate's Degree$36,357$18,880

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.