Management Information Systems and Services at The University of Montana

University of Montana's MIS program shows something unusual: graduates start below the national median at $55,000, but by year four they're earning $85,000—a 54% jump that outpaces typical career trajectories in this field. This matters because while the first-year number ranks in just the 33rd percentile nationally, it beats the Montana median by $6,000 and sits at the 60th percentile within the state. For students planning to stay in Montana, where tech salaries run lower than coastal markets, this program offers the strongest outcomes available locally.

The $23,250 in debt is actually slightly below national benchmarks, producing a manageable 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio in year one that looks even better as salaries climb. This isn't a top-tier tech program competing with schools in major metro areas, but it delivers solid preparation at Montana's accessible flagship university. The moderate sample size suggests steady but not overwhelming enrollment—typical for a specialized program at a regional institution.

For families committed to Montana or the Mountain West region, this represents a practical path into tech with reasonable debt and genuine earning potential. The trajectory matters more than the starting point here: graduates who stick with the field see substantial salary growth that justifies the investment.