Economics bachelor's degree outcomes at Montana State University

Bozeman, MT · Public · Federal field 4506

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$20,175 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 40.8% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −35% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+25%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$47,098 → $58,698

—Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

—Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

18Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

20Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

0Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$22,499

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$25,500

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$62,511

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$270/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$22,499Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$25,905Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE82.1%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE57.1%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$47,098Year 1

$62,511Year 4

$58,698Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.2% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$5,209

Estimated loan payment$270

20borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$62,511 vs. $82,686

$20,175 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary$123,920 median wageU.S. estimate · 11,560 jobs · 25-1063+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeManagers, All Other$110,470 median wageMT estimate · 1,600 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomists$89,340 median wageMT estimate · 90 jobs · 19-3011+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$49,860 median wageMT estimate · 30 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSurvey Researchers$69,460 median wageU.S. estimate · 8,290 jobs · 19-3022-4.8% projected U.S. growth · 0.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeStatisticians$105,650 median wageU.S. estimate · 29,030 jobs · 15-2041+11.0% projected U.S. growth · 1.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeData Scientists$100,490 median wageMT estimate · 220 jobs · 15-2051+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMarket Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$68,080 median wageMT estimate · 1,460 jobs · 13-1161+7.0% projected U.S. growth · 82k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$60,990 median wageMT estimate · 3,670 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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