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. Graduates 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. Azimuth ranks Montana State University-Northern #302 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major. Criminal Justice and Corrections reports 12 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $61,748.
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. Graduates 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. Azimuth ranks Montana State University-Northern #302 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major. Criminal Justice and Corrections reports 12 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $61,748.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
Lower quartile, 10-year field
Upper quartile, 10-year field
How graduate earnings grow across the currently available FE horizons.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $18,500 in debt with typical earnings.
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. Graduates 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. Azimuth ranks Montana State University-Northern #302 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major. Criminal Justice and Corrections reports 12 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $61,748.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
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 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.
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. Graduates 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. Azimuth ranks Montana State University-Northern #302 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major. Criminal Justice and Corrections reports 12 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $61,748.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
