Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Salish Kootenai College

Starting salaries of $52,607 position this nursing program well below what registered nurses typically earn in Montana, where the state median sits at $67,726. While debt figures here are estimated from comparable Montana programs at around $29,446, the actual earnings data tells a clear story: graduates from this program earn substantially less than peers from other nursing programs in the state—roughly $15,000 to $20,000 less than graduates from Montana State Billings or Flathead Valley Community College. At the 25th percentile statewide, this program's outcomes trail most Montana alternatives.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 looks manageable on paper, and four-year earnings do climb to nearly $62,000. However, that still leaves graduates earning below what most Montana nurses make in their first year elsewhere. For families considering this program, the challenge isn't crushing debt—it's the opportunity cost. Nursing is supposed to offer strong financial returns, but this particular pathway delivers earnings that lag the field significantly, even as graduates take on debt levels typical for Montana nursing programs.

Given the gap between these outcomes and what other Montana nursing programs deliver, parents should investigate what accounts for the difference. Geography, clinical placement networks, or employment patterns among this school's 58% Pell-eligible student population might explain the lower earnings, but those factors need to be weighed carefully against programs with stronger demonstrated outcomes.