All MSU majors by area
- Science & Math · 16
- Engineering · 12
- Humanities & Languages · 11
- Business & Finance · 5
- Social Sciences & Public Service · 5
- Health & Medicine · 4
- Arts & Design · 3
- Education · 2
- Technology & Computing · 1
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell / Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $32,538 | $66,498 | $23,625 |
| Mathematics | $34,475 | $65,731 | $24,000 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $37,181 | $60,221 | $22,065 |
| Biology | $29,435 | $50,711 | $24,750 |
| Geology / Earth Science | $29,030 | $49,241 | $22,250 |
| Environmental Science / Conservation | $36,745 | $48,646 | $27,040 |
| Animal Sciences | $30,220 | $46,313 | $24,034 |
| Plant Sciences | $33,311 | $45,392 | $20,500 |
| Sustainability Studies | $22,296 | $41,979 | — |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | — | — | — |
| Biotechnology | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | — | — | — |
| Environmental / Natural Resources Management and Policy | — | — | — |
| Physics | — | — | — |
| Statistics | — | — | — |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $67,015 | $99,411 | $30,500 |
| Electrical Engineering | $77,060 | $98,331 | $20,995 |
| Construction Engineering Technology / Technician | $77,139 | $89,002 | $27,044 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $68,469 | $88,653 | $25,011 |
| Industrial Engineering | $64,082 | $88,087 | $26,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $62,206 | $87,590 | $25,130 |
| Civil Engineering | $67,373 | $82,785 | $21,031 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies / Technicians | $62,605 | $80,089 | $27,500 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | — | $64,133 | $25,500 |
| Environmental Design | — | $57,668 | — |
| Biomedical Engineering | — | — | — |
| Environmental Engineering | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linguistics | $33,415 | $55,352 | $23,250 |
| History | $29,692 | $52,187 | $22,500 |
| English | $33,483 | $47,757 | $20,472 |
| Liberal Arts / General Studies | $30,380 | $45,975 | $27,036 |
| Area Studies | — | — | — |
| East Asian Languages (Chinese / Japanese / Korean) | — | — | — |
| German | — | — | — |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | — | — | — |
| Philosophy | — | — | — |
| Religious Studies | — | — | — |
| Spanish / French / Romance Languages | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Business | $50,876 | $79,621 | $20,000 |
| Business | $48,164 | $71,578 | $23,000 |
| Economics | $47,098 | $62,511 | $25,500 |
| Finance | — | — | — |
| Hospitality Management | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing | $71,915 | $76,146 | $28,000 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Kinesiology / Exercise Science | — | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Art | $32,265 | $46,741 | $26,000 |
| Film and Photography | $29,608 | $45,300 | $24,495 |
| Music | $38,807 | $39,920 | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Subject Teaching) | $38,576 | $46,657 | $24,000 |
| Education (Elementary / Secondary) | $37,501 | $45,523 | $26,000 |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $66,918 | $111,728 | $22,500 |
College Scorecard field of study, latest release: median earnings of graduates who received federal aid, 1 and 4 years after graduating; median federal loan debt. — means too few graduates to report.
From major to career
Nursing → Registered nurse
Median annual wage for all workers in this job. U.S. jobs projected to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree.
BLS OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Business → Management analyst
Median annual wage for all workers in this job. U.S. jobs projected to grow 10.1% from 2025 to 2035. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree.
BLS OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Across all majors, former MSU students earn a median $53,263 ten years after starting college, more than 83% of Montana colleges we cover. 57% graduate within six years.
MSU majors questions
How many majors does MSU offer?
Montana State University offers 59 bachelor's majors across 9 areas; the most majors are in Science & Math and Engineering.
What is the highest-paying major at MSU?
Computer Science graduates from Montana State University earn a median $111,728 four years after graduating, the highest of the 37 majors with reported earnings. Their median debt is $22,500.
Which MSU majors earn the least?
Among majors with reported earnings, Music graduates earn the least: a median $39,920 four years after graduating.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study); Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, Employment Projections). Back to Montana State University overview