Graduates of the University of Montana-Western earn median 4-year earnings of $44,338, placing the institution in the 2.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,114 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing The University of Montana-Western in the 32.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks The University of Montana-Western #1284 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects The University of Montana-Western's concentration in education and teacher-preparation fields. Teacher Education is the largest program with 101 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $41,988. The Business Administration program graduates 33 students with median 4-year earnings of $47,344, and the The Subject-Specific Teacher Education program graduates 27 students earning median 4-year earnings of $46,457. Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Kinesiology round out the largest degree programs.
Graduates of the University of Montana-Western earn median 4-year earnings of $44,338, placing the institution in the 2.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,114 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing The University of Montana-Western in the 32.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks The University of Montana-Western #1284 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects The University of Montana-Western's concentration in education and teacher-preparation fields. Teacher Education is the largest program with 101 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $41,988. The Business Administration program graduates 33 students with median 4-year earnings of $47,344, and the The Subject-Specific Teacher Education program graduates 27 students earning median 4-year earnings of $46,457. Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Kinesiology round out the largest degree programs.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
Lower quartile, 10-year field
How graduate earnings grow across the currently available FE horizons.
Financial justification for the investment.
Graduates of the University of Montana-Western earn median 4-year earnings of $44,338, placing the institution in the 2.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,114 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing The University of Montana-Western in the 32.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks The University of Montana-Western #1284 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects The University of Montana-Western's concentration in education and teacher-preparation fields. Teacher Education is the largest program with 101 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $41,988. The Business Administration program graduates 33 students with median 4-year earnings of $47,344, and the The Subject-Specific Teacher Education program graduates 27 students earning median 4-year earnings of $46,457. Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Kinesiology round out the largest degree programs.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
The University of Montana-Western's program mix is anchored in education and teacher preparation, reflecting the institution's regional mission as a comprehensive public university serving rural Montana. Teacher Education is the largest program with 101 graduates, followed by Business Administration with 33 graduates, Subject-Specific Teacher Education with 27 graduates, Natural Resources Conservation and Research with 17 graduates, and Kinesiology with 16 graduates. Across 11 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. The institution's highest-earning programs reflect both workforce demand and regional economic patterns. Business Administration graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,344 with 33 graduates, while Subject-Specific Teacher Education delivers median earnings of $46,457 for 27 graduates. Teacher Education rounds out the strongest earners with median 4-year earnings of $41,988 for 101 graduates. These outcomes reflect the practical, applied focus of the University of Montana-Western's curriculum and its alignment with Montana's labor market needs. Education represents 50% of degrees awarded, making it the institution's primary focus and anchoring its regional identity as a teacher-preparation hub. Business accounts for 13% of graduates, while Arts comprises 3%. This concentrated portfolio supports direct entry into Montana's education workforce and related professional fields where regional demand remains steady. The supply and demand for college graduates provides context for how teacher-preparation and related fields align with regional labor-market conditions.
Upper quartile, 10-year field
Graduates of the University of Montana-Western earn median 4-year earnings of $44,338, placing the institution in the 2.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,114 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing The University of Montana-Western in the 32.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks The University of Montana-Western #1284 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects The University of Montana-Western's concentration in education and teacher-preparation fields. Teacher Education is the largest program with 101 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $41,988. The Business Administration program graduates 33 students with median 4-year earnings of $47,344, and the The Subject-Specific Teacher Education program graduates 27 students earning median 4-year earnings of $46,457. Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Kinesiology round out the largest degree programs.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories