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

Montana State University's Liberal Arts program produces graduates earning $30,380 in their first year—about $6,000 below the national median for this degree but actually slightly above Montana's state median of $30,106. This means the program performs better relative to its in-state peers (60th percentile) than it does nationally (22nd percentile), which matters if you're a Montana resident paying in-state tuition. The debt load of $27,036 is manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio under 1.0, and it's notably lower than the typical $33,418 debt for Montana liberal arts programs.

The earnings trajectory shows steady improvement, reaching $36,283 by year four—a 19% increase that brings graduates much closer to the national median. For a broadly accessible program at a school with an 87% admission rate, this represents a practical path rather than an exceptional outcome. The moderate sample size suggests these figures are reasonably reliable.

The practical takeaway: If your child is planning to stay in Montana after graduation, this program offers competitive preparation at a reasonable price point. The below-national earnings are less concerning given Montana's lower cost of living and wage scales. However, if they're planning to compete for jobs in higher-wage markets elsewhere, they should understand they'll be starting behind peers from programs with stronger national placement outcomes.