College ROI

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Montana State University

Bozeman, MT 14,451 Undergrads 56.0% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$25,905
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,499
After Aid
Median Earnings
$65,157
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,499
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$65,157
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$53,263
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate56.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.5
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients16.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time89.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
82.1%
SAT Avg
1,183
SAT Reading
25th: 54059575th: 645
SAT Math
25th: 52559075th: 640
ACT Composite
25th: 212475th: 27

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$577k
+$110k
+$92k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$496k
+$29k
+$11k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$483k
+$16k
-$1k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
33
∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
56
14%
Full Cost$26k/yr
Never
-1%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return95%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-25%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,967
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,679
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,930
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k

Associate's Degrees

Air Transportation
AssocCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,026
Natl Median: $75,495
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,006
Earnings (4yr)
$36,357
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,123
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,396
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$19,125
Earnings (4yr)
$79,621
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$23,149
Earnings (4yr)
$46,313
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,122
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Median Debt
$25,061
Earnings (4yr)
$64,133
Natl Median: $70,074
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,711
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,097
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,735
Earnings (4yr)
$71,578
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$66,498
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,590
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$20,913
Earnings (4yr)
$82,785
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$99,411
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$273k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$111,728
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$367k
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$25,185
Earnings (4yr)
$89,002
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,511
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Median Debt
$21,747
Earnings (4yr)
$98,331
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Median Debt
$20,775
Earnings (4yr)
$47,757
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,668
Natl Median: $57,461
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,185
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,646
Earnings (4yr)
$52,702
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
$22,125
Earnings (4yr)
$45,300
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,125
Earnings (4yr)
$46,741
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Median Debt
$20,064
Earnings (4yr)
$49,241
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,375
Earnings (4yr)
$52,187
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$88,087
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Median Debt
$23,785
Earnings (4yr)
$45,975
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,352
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,731
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,089
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Median Debt
$24,980
Earnings (4yr)
$88,653
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,399
Earnings (4yr)
$60,221
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,920
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Median Debt
$27,752
Earnings (4yr)
$48,646
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,392
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Median Debt
$18,050
Earnings (4yr)
$51,285
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,477
Earnings (4yr)
$53,623
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Median Debt
$22,802
Earnings (4yr)
$76,146
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,987
Earnings (4yr)
$48,273
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,979
Natl Median: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$45,523
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (4yr)
$46,657
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $45,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$16,345
Earnings (4yr)
$92,689
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Median Debt
$21,952
Earnings (4yr)
$87,162
Natl Median: $77,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,784
Natl Median: $74,139
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,264
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$236k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,976
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,314
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,130
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,329
Natl Median: $72,563
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,572
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
-$283k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
-$208k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,651
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,750
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
MastCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,814
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,343
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,366
Earnings (4yr)
$64,655
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Education, General
Gr-CertCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,629
Natl Median: $69,448
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,507
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
Gr-CertCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,297
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $141,187
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,630
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,534
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,435
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
DocCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,502
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$55,433
Earnings (4yr)
$126,894
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$212k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $139,914
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,306
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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.