Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Helena College University of Montana

Helena College's nursing program produces graduates earning about $4,000 less than the state median—but couples that with notably lower debt than most Montana nursing schools. At $29,692, graduates carry debt near the state average yet well below the national figure, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 that allows for comfortable repayment. The caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes may vary more than at larger programs.

The real question is whether starting $8,000 behind top Montana programs like MSU Billings matters over time. The 8% earnings growth to year four suggests steady career progression, and nursing's strong labor market means many graduates will likely close that gap through experience and job changes. For students who need to stay in Helena or prefer a smaller college environment, the tradeoff between slightly lower starting pay and manageable debt could work—especially since Montana nursing salaries compress considerably compared to coastal markets anyway.

The small sample size demands caution. A few graduates with part-time positions or who left the workforce could significantly skew these medians. If your student is considering Helena College, ask the nursing department about clinical placement sites and first-time NCLEX pass rates—those metrics might tell you more about program quality than earnings data drawn from such a limited pool of recent graduates.