Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research at Montana State University - Billings

Graduates from the Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, and Nursing Research programs at Montana State University - Billings can expect a promising earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $64,706, which increases to $73,402 after five years and reaches $81,671 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary equates to approximately $70,511.05 nationally, indicating that graduates maintain competitive earnings relative to their peers across the country, despite the cost of living index in Montana being slightly higher than the national average.

The primary industries that graduates enter include Health Care & Social Assistance, which accounts for 41.4% of employment, followed by Educational Services at 25.1% and another segment of Health Care & Social Assistance at 20.3%. Given the strong demand for nursing professionals and the relatively short estimated break-even period of approximately 5.1 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing a nursing degree at this institution appears favorable. This suggests that students can expect not only stable employment but also a solid financial return on their educational investment.