Montana State University-Northern
Among the weakest of its kind. Look at alternatives before enrolling. It ranks 1,332 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 34 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
- Debt is manageable: graduates owe a typical $14,068 in federal loans against earnings of $52,907.
- Affordable: the average student pays about $14,686 a year after grants, cheaper than 72% of four-year colleges.
Why it is bad
- Only 40% of students graduate. 84% of four-year colleges do better.
- It falls short of expectations: it graduates 19 points fewer students than is typical for a college enrolling the same share of low-income students (40% against an expected 59%; the estimate is rough, with a typical error of about 16 points).
- Many students leave early: only 64% of first-year students return for a second year.
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 Administration, Management and Operations | 26 | $39,369 | $18,204 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 23 | $55,286 | n/a |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 15 | $66,461 | n/a |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 13 | $36,134 | n/a |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 12 | $32,925 | n/a |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 7 | n/a | n/a |
| Biology, General | 6 | n/a | n/a |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 5 | n/a | n/a |
| Design and Applied Arts | 5 | n/a | n/a |
Associate degrees: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 29 | $35,060 | n/a |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 24 | $38,289 | n/a |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 18 | $57,860 | $17,252 |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | 14 | n/a | n/a |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 10 | n/a | n/a |
| Agricultural Mechanization | 5 | n/a | n/a |
Certificates and diplomas: largest programs
| Field | Graduates a year | Earnings, 2 yrs after | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | 24 | n/a | $8,668 |
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.