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

Pima Medical Institute-Dillon's veterinary technician program produces graduates earning just above $25,000 annually, with earnings actually declining to around $24,000 by year four. While this represents the 60th percentile among Montana's vet tech programs, that's somewhat misleading—it's the only program offering this credential in the state. More telling is the national comparison: these earnings land squarely at the median, meaning half of similar programs nationwide produce better outcomes.

The debt picture offers the program's strongest selling point. At $9,500, graduates carry less than half what they'd owe at the typical vet tech program nationally (where median debt exceeds $8,200 but many programs charge significantly more). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 means graduates owe roughly 4.5 months' salary—manageable, though the slight earnings decline over time is unusual for a credential program and worth understanding before enrollment.

The reality is that vet tech work pays modestly everywhere, and this program won't change that math. However, if your child is committed to this career path and Montana is home, the relatively low debt load prevents a passion-driven choice from becoming a financial mistake. Just recognize that $24,000-$25,000 represents the likely earnings ceiling, not a starting point.