Montana State University Billings
Among the weakest of its kind. Look at alternatives before enrolling. It ranks 1,601 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 22.8 out of 100.
These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.
Student reviews are coming soon
We are rebuilding how students share their experiences, so for now this page shows only the federal numbers and our written summaries. Check back soon.
Why it is good
- Affordable: the average student pays about $15,630 a year after grants, cheaper than 69% of four-year colleges.
Why it is bad
- Only 36% of students graduate. 87% of four-year colleges do better.
- It falls short of expectations: it graduates 28 points fewer students than is typical for a college enrolling the same share of low-income students (36% against an expected 65%; the estimate is rough, with a typical error of about 16 points).
- Many students leave early: only 56% of first-year students return for a second year.
- Low pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $48,199, lower than 78% of four-year colleges.
- Earnings trail expectations by about $19,713 a year for a college with its student mix (the estimate is rough, with a typical error of about $15,000).
The numbers
What these figures measure
Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.
Programs and early earnings
Bachelor's degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General | 113 | $39,369 | $18,750 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 39 | $43,993 | $15,749 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 34 | $32,284 | $25,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 28 | n/a | $15,873 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 24 | $29,250 | n/a |
| Psychology, General | 19 | n/a | $21,370 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 18 | n/a | n/a |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 18 | $38,289 | n/a |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 15 | $29,685 | $22,750 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 15 | $31,890 | n/a |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 10 | $38,289 | n/a |
| Special Education and Teaching | 9 | $25,774 | n/a |
Associate degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 38 | $58,402 | $17,875 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 24 | n/a | $11,000 |
| Precision Metal Working | 21 | $36,848 | n/a |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 20 | n/a | n/a |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 17 | $39,909 | n/a |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 16 | n/a | n/a |
Certificates and diplomas: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 21 | n/a | $9,350 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | 15 | n/a | $14,954 |
| Precision Metal Working | 7 | n/a | n/a |
Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.
Students and reviews
Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Student reviews and questions are coming soon to this site. In the meantime, other sources:
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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.