Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Highlands College of Montana Tech

In Montana's tight healthcare job market, allied health programs at the state's six colleges show median first-year earnings around $38,335. For Highlands College's program, we're working with national estimates—$36,862 in earnings and $17,606 in debt—since the graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to report specific outcomes. These figures suggest earnings slightly below what other Montana programs deliver, though the difference amounts to less than $125 monthly after taxes.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 means roughly half a year's salary goes toward loans, which is manageable compared to many healthcare credentials. Nationwide, similar associate programs typically carry about $19,825 in debt, so the estimated borrowing here runs a bit lighter. Medical assisting and allied health roles often provide stable employment with benefits, though advancement usually requires additional certification or experience rather than dramatic salary jumps.

For parents weighing this investment, the key uncertainty is whether Highlands' actual outcomes match these national benchmarks or align more closely with Montana's slightly higher state median. Given the small program size, talking directly with the college about job placement rates and connections to Butte-area healthcare employers would help fill in what the suppressed data can't tell you. The estimated numbers suggest reasonable value, but you're betting on outcomes that haven't been publicly verified for this specific program.