Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians at Pima Medical Institute-Dillon

Pima Medical Institute-Dillon's vet tech program outperforms the national median by about $1,500 in first-year earnings—placing it in the 72nd percentile nationally—though the small graduating class (under 30 students) means individual outcomes could vary significantly. At $19,046 in median debt, graduates are borrowing slightly more than the national average, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51. That means students would need to dedicate about half of their first year's salary to pay off loans, which is manageable but not exceptional for a two-year allied health program.

The bigger context here is Montana's veterinary technician job market. As the only school in the state offering this associate degree, competition for local graduates is limited, but so are job opportunities—Montana simply doesn't have the same density of veterinary practices as more populous states. The $37,570 starting salary is reasonable for rural Montana's cost of living, but it's worth noting that vet tech salaries often plateau relatively early compared to other healthcare fields.

For families committed to this career path and Montana residency, this program delivers competitive training at a reasonable price point. However, the small cohort size and limited state-level data make it harder to predict individual outcomes. If your student is flexible about relocating after graduation, they may find stronger earning potential in larger metropolitan areas outside Montana.