Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Montana State University Billings

Montana State University Billings graduates entering teaching start behind their peers—both nationally and within Montana. At $35,132 in first-year earnings, graduates here earn about $6,600 less than the national median for education majors and fall well short of what Carroll College ($43,469) or even Montana State's main campus ($37,501) deliver. While the 40th percentile ranking within Montana sounds middling, it's actually concerning: this program underperforms half of Montana's education schools, despite the state already having some of the lowest teaching salaries in the country.

The modest debt load of $24,652 provides some relief, coming in below both state and national averages. The 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly 8 months of salary—manageable on a teacher's budget, though it still requires careful financial planning. Earnings do grow 16% by year four, reaching $40,835, but that's still $1,000 below the national starting median for education majors.

For families considering this program, the calculation is straightforward: your child will likely earn less than education graduates from Montana's flagship universities while facing similar debt burdens. Unless location in Billings specifically matters for your family, MSU's main campus or Carroll College appear to offer better returns. Teaching is already among the lower-paying professional fields—starting near the bottom of Montana's already-modest salary range makes the financial picture particularly tight.