Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Montana State University Billings

Montana State University Billings' nursing program shows earnings that trail both state and national medians by about $3,000-4,000, landing in the 40th percentile statewide and 31st nationally. That said, the financial picture isn't dire: graduates carry moderate debt of $33,000 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46—meaning less than half of first-year salary goes toward debt service, which is manageable for nursing.

The real concern here is Montana's competitive landscape. University of Providence graduates earn $30,000 more annually, and even Montana State's main campus edges out Billings by a small margin. This suggests the Billings program may lack connections to higher-paying hospital systems or specialty units that boost early-career compensation. Whether that $3,000-4,000 annual difference matters depends on your priorities—if staying in Billings for personal reasons outweighs maximizing earnings, this path makes sense.

One important caveat: the sample size here is under 30 graduates, so these figures could shift significantly year to year. If you're seriously considering this program, ask the nursing department about recent graduate placement rates and which hospitals typically hire their grads. The debt load is reasonable enough that this isn't a financial trap, but Montana nursing students have stronger options if earnings potential matters to your family.