Data Processing at Great Falls College Montana State University
MT · Associate's Degree · CIP 11.03
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Data Processing degree from Great Falls College Montana State University earn a median salary of $46,924 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MT, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $45,076. The degree typically pays for itself in 15.8 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$35,872
Typical Career
$46,924
Top Performers
$61,332
Estimated break-even: 15.8 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$313
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,910. Most students can comfortably afford about a $313 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Montana buys what costs $1.04 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Retail Trade.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$45,076
Nominal: $46,924 in Montana (COL 104.1% of national avg) · 3.9% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $24,637 | $32,393 | $46,728 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $35,872 | $46,924 | $61,332 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $41,695 | $54,051 | $73,728 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $46,924 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MT, which has a cost-of-living index of 104.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $46,924 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0410)
= $45,076 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries for graduates are predominantly in Health Care & Social Assistance, with 45.9% entering this field shortly after graduation. This trend continues with 35.1% and 33.2% of graduates remaining in similar sectors over time. Considering the estimated break-even point of approximately 15.8 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing a degree in Data Processing appears favorable, particularly given the stability and growth potential within these industries.
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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.