Human Resources Management and Services (Associate's Degree) at Dawson Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$40,006

Est. from national median (23 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$16,261

Est. from national median (9 programs)

Analysis

An estimated $16,261 in debt positions this associate's program well below the national median of $26,536 for similar HR credentials, suggesting Dawson keeps costs contained for students pursuing this career path. Based on comparable programs nationally, first-year earnings around $40,000 would translate to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans with about five months of gross income, a manageable burden for an entry-level HR position.

The challenge is uncertainty. With only two schools in Montana offering associate's degrees in HR, and neither reporting actual graduate outcomes, it's difficult to assess how this rural community college's program stacks up regionally. National benchmarks suggest HR associate's graduates typically earn between $40,000 and $46,000 in their first year, but local job markets matter significantly in this field. Glendive's remote location may limit immediate opportunities compared to programs near Montana's larger population centers, potentially requiring graduates to relocate or accept lower starting salaries than these estimates suggest.

For families comfortable with some ambiguity, the lower estimated debt load makes this a less risky bet than many HR programs. But prospective students should investigate Montana's actual demand for associate-level HR professionals and whether Dawson's placement network extends beyond the region, since the program's real-world outcomes remain undocumented.

Where Dawson Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all human resources management and services associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Human Resources Management and Services associates's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Dawson Community CollegeGlendive	$4,485	$40,006*	—	$16,261*	—
San Joaquin Valley College-VisaliaVisalia	—	$46,445*	—	$20,000*	0.43
Rasmussen University-FloridaOcala	$15,117	$45,969*	$49,585	$26,536*	0.58
Rasmussen University-North DakotaFargo	$12,715	$45,969*	$49,585	$26,536*	0.58
Rasmussen University-MinnesotaSt. Cloud	$10,899	$45,969*	$49,585	$26,536*	0.58
Rasmussen University-IllinoisRockford	$13,546	$45,969*	$49,585	$26,536*	0.58
National Median	—	$40,006*	—	$26,536*	0.66

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with human resources management and services graduates

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Labor Relations Specialists

Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.

$93,500/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Law Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Coroners

Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Dawson Community College, approximately 27% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 23 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.