Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Montana State University Billings

The unusually high debt burden here—$39,800 versus Montana's typical $33,418 for this degree—creates a difficult first year for graduates. Starting at under $30,000, these graduates face debt exceeding their annual income by a third, which is particularly challenging given that this program ranks in just the 20th percentile nationally for earnings. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could swing considerably year to year, but the debt concern remains concrete.

That said, the earnings trajectory tells a more optimistic story. By year four, median earnings jump to $52,082—a 75% increase that significantly outpaces both Montana's median for this degree ($30,106) and the national benchmark. This suggests graduates who stick with their career paths can achieve solid mid-career outcomes, though whether that reflects the program's effectiveness or simply natural wage progression for motivated individuals is unclear with such limited data.

For parents, the question centers on your child's first-year financial plan. Can they manage that debt load on $30,000 while rent, car payments, and student loans all come due? If they have family support or minimal living expenses initially, the long-term earnings growth makes this more viable. If they'll be financially independent from day one, that debt-to-income ratio becomes a real squeeze. The small cohort size also means you're essentially making a bet on limited information—what worked for 25 graduates may not predict your child's experience.