Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Highlands College of Montana Tech

Montana's automotive technician programs typically yield stronger outcomes than national averages, with the state median at $47,000 versus $42,900 nationally. While we can't verify this specific program's performance, similar programs at Montana State Billings and Helena College report first-year earnings in the $46,000-$48,000 range—suggesting that comparable programs in the state outpace the national figures we're using as estimates here by roughly $4,000.

The estimated debt load of $11,425 creates a manageable 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe roughly three months' salary. This falls below both the state median ($14,028) and national median ($12,000) for automotive programs, which is encouraging. Montana's automotive technician market appears strong enough that even if actual outcomes fall somewhere between these estimates and the state median, the financial picture should remain sound.

The real uncertainty lies in whether Highlands College specifically matches the state's stronger trend or falls closer to the national baseline. Given Montana's overall track record with automotive programs and the relatively low debt burden, this represents a reasonable bet—but understand you're making that decision without program-specific data. If your child is committed to automotive work and prefers staying in Montana, the state's demonstrated strength in this field provides some reassurance even when individual program data isn't available.