Montana State University Billings

Billings, MT 2,626 Undergrads 35.8% Grad Rate

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Total Cost

$20,054

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$16,524

After Aid

Median Earnings

$55,549

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,524

Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$55,549

Peer Midpoint: $60,428

Graduation Rate35.8%

Peer Midpoint: 58.9%

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients35.2%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time69.3%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS68.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

100.0%

SAT Avg

SAT Reading

25th: --75th: -

SAT Math

25th: --75th: -

ACT Composite

25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV

Vs Median Peer

Vs HS Grad

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

+$500k

+$33k

+$15k

Median Cost$17k/yr

+$440k

-$27k

-$44k

Full Cost$20k/yr

+$427k

-$39k

-$57k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$17k/yr

Never

-74%

Full Cost$20k/yr

Never

-79%

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-38%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-54%

Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Accounting and Related Services

CertCIP: 5203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $44,589

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

CertCIP: 5108

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $34,272

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Carpenters

CertCIP: 4602

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,835

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 1517

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,796

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health and Medical Administrative Services

CertCIP: 5107

Median Debt

$12,000

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $35,447

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Human Resources Management and Services

CertCIP: 5210

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $61,907

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

CertCIP: 5139

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $56,073

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 4706

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,586

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

AssocCIP: 5203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $47,660

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

AssocCIP: 5109

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$60,031

Natl Median: $65,389

Lifetime Value Added

+$114k

Business Administration, Management and Operations

AssocCIP: 5202

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,733

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business/Commerce, General

AssocCIP: 5201

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $49,927

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Carpenters

AssocCIP: 4602

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $47,382

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer Programming

AssocCIP: 1102

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $58,070

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications

AssocCIP: 1109

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,971

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Education, General

AssocCIP: 1301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,787

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 1504

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $73,046

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 1517

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $67,276

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Fire Protection

AssocCIP: 4302

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $73,589

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health and Medical Administrative Services

AssocCIP: 5107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $37,073

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Human Resources Management and Services

AssocCIP: 5210

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,425

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

AssocCIP: 2401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $44,125

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Precision Metal Working

AssocCIP: 4805

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$51,467

Natl Median: $56,451

Lifetime Value Added

+$32k

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

AssocCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$19,937

Earnings (4yr)

$73,465

Natl Median: $80,813

Lifetime Value Added

+$237k

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions

AssocCIP: 5123

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $43,854

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 4706

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$49,857

Natl Median: $58,424

Lifetime Value Added

+$16k

Bachelor's Degrees

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management

BachCIP: 5010

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,240

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biology, General

BachCIP: 2601

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $57,214

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business/Commerce, General

BachCIP: 5201

Median Debt

$17,503

Earnings (4yr)

$58,827

Natl Median: $68,407

Lifetime Value Added

-$18k

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

BachCIP: 4228

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$29,685

Natl Median: $50,523

Lifetime Value Added

-$254k

Communication and Media Studies

BachCIP: 0901

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $56,359

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Criminal Justice and Corrections

BachCIP: 4301

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$40,922

Natl Median: $55,378

Lifetime Value Added

-$174k

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology

BachCIP: 2613

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,842

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Fine and Studio Arts

BachCIP: 5007

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,367

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health and Medical Administrative Services

BachCIP: 5107

Median Debt

$16,877

Earnings (2yr)

$38,289

Natl Median: $58,716

Lifetime Value Added

-$177k

History

BachCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

BachCIP: 2401

Median Debt

$18,143

Earnings (4yr)

$67,304

Natl Median: $53,072

Lifetime Value Added

+$49k

Mathematics

BachCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,562

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Microbiological Sciences and Immunology

BachCIP: 2605

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $62,582

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

BachCIP: 3099

Median Debt

$16,076

Earnings (4yr)

$65,875

Natl Median: $55,693

Lifetime Value Added

+$38k

Music

BachCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $42,892

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

BachCIP: 0301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,012

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies

BachCIP: 3101

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $50,983

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

BachCIP: 4510

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,293

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Psychology, General

BachCIP: 4201

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $50,706

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

BachCIP: 0909

Median Debt

$16,000

Earnings (2yr)

$38,289

Natl Median: $63,560

Lifetime Value Added

-$177k

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

BachCIP: 5138

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $88,910

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions

BachCIP: 5123

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,792

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1609

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,000

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sociology

BachCIP: 4511

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$31,851

Natl Median: $52,657

Lifetime Value Added

-$235k

Special Education and Teaching

BachCIP: 1310

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$25,774

Natl Median: $50,078

Lifetime Value Added

-$290k

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

BachCIP: 3105

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,562

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

BachCIP: 1312

Median Debt

$20,000

Earnings (4yr)

$37,846

Natl Median: $47,382

Lifetime Value Added

-$194k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

BachCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$49,293

Natl Median: $51,389

Lifetime Value Added

-$104k

Master's Degrees

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

MastCIP: 5109

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $127,347

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Curriculum and Instruction

MastCIP: 1303

Median Debt

$26,500

Earnings (4yr)

$48,299

Natl Median: $63,399

Lifetime Value Added

-$254k

Education, General

MastCIP: 1301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,824

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health and Medical Administrative Services

MastCIP: 5107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$90,008

Natl Median: $89,981

Lifetime Value Added

+$122k

Psychology, General

MastCIP: 4201

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $64,711

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

MastCIP: 0909

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $80,125

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions

MastCIP: 5123

Median Debt

$48,207

Earnings (4yr)

$51,109

Natl Median: $71,416

Lifetime Value Added

-$227k

Special Education and Teaching

MastCIP: 1310

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$37,208

Natl Median: $64,397

Lifetime Value Added

-$348k

Student Counseling and Personnel Services

MastCIP: 1311

Median Debt

$27,015

Earnings (4yr)

$56,351

Natl Median: $60,111

Lifetime Value Added

-$177k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

MastCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,707

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.