Career Training Path

Career Training PathMontana › Great Falls College Montana State University

Great Falls College Montana State University

Great Falls, Montana · Public community college

Welding schoolsDental hygiene programsSurgical technologist programsLPN / LVN programsMedical assistant programsDental assistant schoolsMedical billing & coding programsEMT & paramedic training
34%completion rate · Montana avg 52%
not reportedmedian debt of graduates
$35,625median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$38,034median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation | American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Edu | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (Accredited)
Address: 2100 16th Ave S, Great Falls, MT 59405 · Phone: (406) 268-3700 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.
Completion rate vs. benchmarks
Great Falls College M… Great Falls College M…: 34.1% 34.1% Montana average Montana average: 52.3% 52.3% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$43,720$55,610$63,520
Dental hygienists$83,060$98,440$100,920
Surgical technologists$37,690$60,970$70,580
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses$49,230$62,210$66,850
Medical assistants$38,670$46,820$48,960
Dental assistants$37,340$46,680$49,920
Medical records specialists$40,460$50,190$59,770
Emergency medical technicians$27,280$36,140$41,530

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Montana (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.

Trade programs at this campus

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 31 not reported not reported not reported
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Associate degree 22 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 300–899 hours 19 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 13 not reported not reported not reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 1–2 years 12 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 12 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Associate degree 8 not reported not reported not reported
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Certificate, 1–2 years 6 not reported not reported not reported
Health and Medical Administrative Services Certificate, 1–2 years 6 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 5 not reported not reported not reported

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.

Visit the school's website ↗

The Path
Lineworkers earn $95k. Dental hygienists $98k. Barbers $38k.
The federal numbers on every trade, technical and healthcare career, in a free weekly newsletter.
Subscribe →

Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.

The Path
Nine months to a paycheck that AI can't take.
A free weekly newsletter for people choosing a hands-on career: trades, technical and healthcare.
Subscribe →