Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at University of Providence

University of Providence nursing graduates earn $101,187 in their first year—crushing both Montana's median ($74,672) and the national average ($74,888) by over $26,000. Among Montana's seven nursing programs, this ranks in the 80th percentile, and it outperforms even Montana State University-Northern by nearly $24,000. That kind of premium matters immediately: it means your child could pay off their $23,847 in debt in about three months of work rather than stretching payments over years.

The debt load itself sits below Montana's typical nursing program ($29,500), creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.24—meaning debt equals less than three months of first-year salary. Earnings continue climbing to $106,728 by year four, and with a sample size over 100 graduates, these aren't flukes. The 64% admission rate suggests accessibility without sacrificing outcomes.

For Montana families, this is straightforward: if your child wants to stay in-state for nursing school, University of Providence delivers the strongest financial return among the major programs. The combination of below-state-median debt and well-above-state-median earnings makes this one of the clearer values in Montana nursing education.