Human Resources Management and Services (Associate's Degree) at Montana State University Billings

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 puts this program well below the national median of $26,536 for associate degrees in human resources—a meaningful advantage when similar programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $40,000. That debt load translates to a 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio, which means graduates would owe roughly 41% of their first-year salary. For context, education policy experts generally consider anything below 0.50 manageable for an associate degree.

Montana has only two schools offering this credential, so your options in-state are already limited. While we can't compare this program directly to actual outcomes from Montana State Billings graduates (the sample size is too small for the Department of Education to report), the estimated figures derived from peer programs nationwide suggest a relatively balanced financial proposition. HR roles often value practical skills and certifications as much as credentials, and an associate degree can serve as an entry point to coordinator or specialist positions—though advancement typically requires additional credentials or years of experience.

The combination of below-average estimated debt and earnings that align with national norms makes this a program worth serious consideration if your student is committed to the HR field. Just recognize you're working with national benchmarks rather than Montana-specific outcomes, which could look different depending on the local job market in Billings and the school's employer connections.

Where Montana State University Billings 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
Montana State University BillingsBillings	$6,706	$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 Montana State University Billings, approximately 26% 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.