Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Montana State University-Northern #554 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,969 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Montana State University-Northern in the 84.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Montana State University-Northern #142 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Montana State University-Northern's composite ranking reflects affordability and mobility working together — delivering predictable financial outcomes for students and families at Montana public-tuition pricing. The institution serves a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students across its rural and regional footprint.
Azimuth ranks Montana State University-Northern #554 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public master's university in Havre, Montana, Montana State University-Northern enrolls roughly 761 undergraduates. Retention is 63.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 41.1%, reflecting the institution's role as a regional access point for students in rural Montana and the Northern Plains. Montana State University-Northern delivers solid return on investment for its student body. Azimuth ranks Montana State University-Northern #303 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $60,505, and Montana State University-Northern earn about $8,969 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 84.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio is anchored in Business, which aligns with stable regional employment in finance, management, and professional services. Access and affordability anchor Montana State University-Northern's value proposition. 33.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 34.4% are first-generation college students, reflecting the institution's commitment to serving rural and low-income populations. Azimuth ranks Montana State University-Northern in the 19.3 percentile for access and the 90.1 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students seeking a small, affordable public institution with clear pathways to employment in the Northern Plains region, Montana State University-Northern offers a straightforward financial and academic proposition.
Montana State University-Northern's published cost of attendance is $16,578. Net price by income band reflects the university's public tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $9,940, middle-income families pay around $12,451, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,578. Azimuth ranks Montana State University-Northern #142 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Montana State University-Northern participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, with financial aid applications processed through the FAFSA. The university's aid structure aims to bridge the gap between published cost and what families actually pay, though the extent of that bridge varies by income level and individual circumstances. For families weighing affordability decisions, understanding both the sticker price and the net price—what you actually pay after aid—is essential; the difference between these figures can be substantial. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $10,150; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. See the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,505, median federal debt of $18,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $209 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios—including Parent PLUS planning—use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Montana State University-Northern is a public university in MT that delivers strong outcomes for students interested in Business and related fields — a good fit for students who want a public four-year university experience in a rural setting with manageable costs and a focus on applied-professional programs. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $60,505, placing Montana State University-Northern in the 45.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $8,969 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 84.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 33.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 34.4% are first-generation — and delivers outcomes that place Montana State University-Northern in the 9.0 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix favors Business and related applied fields, and the rural location offers a distinct campus experience. Students whose interests align with those areas and who value a small-town setting will find a strong earnings trajectory and manageable costs.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Montana State University-Northern hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Montana State University-Northern's published cost of attendance is $16,578. Net price by income band reflects the university's public tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $9,940, middle-income families pay around $12,451, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,578.
Azimuth ranks Montana State University-Northern #142 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Montana State University-Northern participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, with financial aid applications processed through the FAFSA. The university's aid structure aims to bridge the gap between published cost and what families actually pay, though the extent of that bridge varies by income level and individual circumstances.
For families weighing affordability decisions, understanding both the sticker price and the net price—what you actually pay after aid—is essential; [the difference between these figures can be substantial](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/). Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $10,150; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures.
See the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,505, median federal debt of $18,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $209 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios—including Parent PLUS planning—use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Montana State University-Northern earn median 4-year earnings of $60,505, placing Montana State University-Northern in the 45.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs below the $52,536 median at comparable institutions.
Graduates earn about $8,969 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Montana State University-Northern in the 84.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to MT's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928 (the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential).
Business is the dominant program family at Montana State University-Northern, reflecting the institution's regional focus on workforce preparation in accounting, management, and applied professional fields. Business Administration is the largest program with 34 graduates, followed by Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians with 26 graduates and Nursing with 19 graduates.
These programs anchor the institution's degree output and connect students to stable regional employment pathways in rural Montana and the Northern Plains labor market.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
19 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
12 graduates
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
26 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
34 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
18 graduates
Montana State University-Northern anchors its program portfolio in applied business and workforce-aligned fields. Business Administration is the largest program with 34 graduates annually, followed by Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Nursing, Teacher Education, and Criminal Justice.
The institution's program mix reflects a regional comprehensive mission: Business accounts for 25% of degrees, Education represents 16%, and Arts comprises 3%. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied fields aligned with regional labor demand.
Criminal Justice graduates earn median earnings of $61,748 four years after enrollment, with 12 graduates annually. Criminal Justice graduates earn median earnings of $61,748 four years after enrollment, reflecting solid outcomes in a field that anchors the institution's largest cohorts.
These programs represent the direct-to-workforce pathway where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market entry and early-career wage progression. Montana State University-Northern serves a rural Montana region where program mix emphasizes practical credentials and employer-aligned training.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market conditions. As a comprehensive regional institution, Montana State University-Northern prioritizes workforce readiness and local employer partnerships over research-intensive or graduate-dependent pathways.
