Design and Applied Arts at Montana State University

Montana State's Design and Applied Arts associate program posts impressive first-year earnings of $36,931—crushing the national median by over $9,000 and landing in the 95th percentile nationally. That's rare performance for an associate degree in this field, where most programs struggle to hit $30,000. The $18,880 in typical debt translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51, meaning graduates earn roughly twice what they owe.

The small sample size here (fewer than 30 graduates tracked) demands caution—a handful of outliers could skew these numbers significantly. Montana only has two schools offering this program, so the 60th percentile state ranking doesn't tell us much. What matters more is the absolute earning power: $36,931 gives an associate-degree holder breathing room that many bachelor's programs can't match, especially in Montana's lower cost-of-living environment.

For families weighing trade school versus traditional college paths, this program demonstrates how targeted technical training can deliver immediate returns. Just recognize you're looking at limited data from a very accessible school (87% admission rate). If your student thrives in hands-on creative work and wants to stay in Montana, this appears to be a low-risk entry point into the field.