Location: Butte, MT•In-State Tuition: $8,050•Out-of-State Tuition: $24,730•Admission Rate: 90%•Avg SAT: 1126
Median Earnings (1yr)
$80,327
95th percentile
Est. Median Debt
$23,825
Est. from national median (171 programs)
Sample: 17 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Montana Tech's civil engineering program punches well above its weight, with first-year earnings of $80,327 placing it at the 95th percentile nationally—roughly $11,000 above the typical civil engineering graduate nationwide. While debt figures for this specific program aren't available due to small graduate cohorts, similar bachelor's programs at Montana Tech suggest borrowing around $23,825, which would create a highly favorable 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio.

What makes this outcome particularly striking is the context: Montana Tech admits 90% of applicants and serves a modest student body, yet its civil engineering graduates are out-earning peers from Montana State by nearly $13,000. The program also surpasses Montana's state median for civil engineering by over $6,000, suggesting strong industry connections or curriculum alignment with high-paying sectors like mining or infrastructure development—areas where Montana Tech's technical focus and location in Butte's historic mining district may provide advantages.

The estimated debt level aligns closely with national norms for civil engineering programs, making this one of the more straightforward value propositions in Montana higher education. Even if actual borrowing runs somewhat higher than the estimate, the strong earnings trajectory provides substantial cushion. For families concerned about engineering degree costs, this program delivers elite-tier outcomes without requiring elite-tier admissions credentials.

Where Montana Technological University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all civil engineering bachelors's programs nationally

Montana Technological University (estimated ±10%)Other civil engineering programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Montana Technological University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Montana Technological University earns $80k — 95th percentile among civil engineering bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Montana

Civil Engineering bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Montana (3 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Montana Technological UniversityButte$8,050$80,327—$23,825*—
Montana State UniversityBozeman$8,083$67,373$65,618$21,031*0.31
National Median—$69,574—$24,500*0.35
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with civil engineering graduates

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers

Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Petroleum Engineers

Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.

$141,280/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Engineers

Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.

$104,170/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers

Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs.

$101,020/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Civil Engineers

Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems.

$99,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Transportation Engineers

Develop plans for surface transportation projects, according to established engineering standards and state or federal construction policy. Prepare designs, specifications, or estimates for transportation facilities. Plan modifications of existing streets, highways, or freeways to improve traffic flow.

$99,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water/Wastewater Engineers

Design or oversee projects involving provision of potable water, disposal of wastewater and sewage, or prevention of flood-related damage. Prepare environmental documentation for water resources, regulatory program compliance, data management and analysis, and field work. Perform hydraulic modeling and pipeline design.

$99,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Engineers, All Other

All engineers not listed separately.

Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar

Design, develop, or evaluate energy-related projects or programs to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency during the designing, building, or remodeling stages of construction. May specialize in electrical systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems; green buildings; lighting; air quality; or energy procurement.

Mechatronics Engineers

Research, design, develop, or test automation, intelligent systems, smart devices, or industrial systems control.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Montana Technological University, approximately 21% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 17 graduates with reported earnings and 13 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.