New College Degree Payoff Tool Launched October 29 Shows in Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Montana: Graduates Earn 93% More Than High School Graduates, Fifth-Highest Premium in the Nation
A newly launched online tool released October 29 in Helena, Lewis and Clark County, shows Montana is among the strongest states in the nation for the payoff of a college degree. According to the tool, graduates of Montana certificate, associate and bachelor's programs typically earn $60,935 four years after graduating, 93 percent more than the $31,564 earned by the state's high school graduates, ranking fifth among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., against a national average premium of 76 percent.
In field-by-field comparisons, Montana's family and consumer sciences bachelor's program ranks second among 25 states, psychology third among 51 states, and business sixth among 39 states. The tool lists post-graduation earnings by degree program for each state, helping students and families compare the economic return of education choices.
For Montana, the high earnings premium means investment in higher education is rewarded well in the local labor market, and offers a new reference for university recruitment and program planning in the state. The tool's publishers note that differences among states reflect industry structure, degree supply and labor demand, and that readers should weigh field and region together when comparing.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 蒙大拿州议会大厦，位于海伦娜。 / The Montana State Capitol in Helena.
