Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at Montana State University Billings

Montana's rehabilitation programs show striking variation, with peer institutions reporting first-year earnings around $22,000—nearly $14,000 less than what national benchmarks suggest this field typically produces. This gap raises questions about local labor market realities versus the national picture, where comparable programs show graduates earning roughly $36,000 in their first year.

The estimated debt load of $25,500 sits right in line with both state and national norms for this credential, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 if outcomes track closer to national patterns. However, if Montana's lower wage floor holds true, that same debt becomes considerably harder to manage on $22,000 annually. The difference matters practically: at national earnings levels, you're looking at manageable monthly payments; at Montana levels, those same payments could consume 15-20% of take-home pay.

The wide range in Montana outcomes—and the fact that we're working with estimated rather than reported data for this specific program—means parents should verify what happens to actual MSUB graduates. Talk to the career services office about placement rates, typical employers, and starting salaries for recent graduates in this program. The national data suggests reasonable value, but the Montana market may tell a different story that makes this investment harder to justify without additional financial support or a plan to work outside the state.