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Montana State University-Northern

Havre, Montana · Public university · Training programs available:

Diesel mechanic schoolsWelding schoolsPlumbing schoolsAuto mechanic schools
not reportedcompletion rate · Montana avg 52%
$18,500median debt of graduates
$45,045median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$49,505median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (Accredited)
Address: 300 W 11th St, Havre, MT 59501 · Phone: (406) 265-3700 · 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.

Montana State University-Northern is a public trade and career school in Havre, Montana offering diesel mechanic, welding, and plumbing programs, accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

The state average completion rate is 52.3%, and this campus's own completion rate isn't reported, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median graduate debt is $18,500 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $49,505.

Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Montana State University-Northern; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid can be used here, and about 33.1% of students receive Pell Grants.

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists$44,880$59,990$71,180
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$43,720$55,610$63,520
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$48,250$79,960$94,370
Automotive service technicians and mechanics$38,170$58,740$72,270

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
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 26 not reported $35,060 not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 24 not reported not reported not reported
Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services Associate degree 8 not reported not reported not reported
Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services Associate degree 6 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 3 not reported $35,060 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 ↗

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About this school

Montana State University-Northern is a public university in Havre, Montana, accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (with nursing programs accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing). Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used at this school. The campus awards trade credentials most often in diesel mechanic schools, welding schools, and plumbing schools, drawing from a broader set of program families that also includes auto-mechanic training.

Among the numbers reported in federal data: the state average completion rate is 52.3%, though this campus's own completion rate and how it compares to that state average is not reported for this campus in federal data. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $18,500. Median earnings 10 years after entry were $49,505. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 33.1% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of the student body qualifies for federal need-based aid.

With 67 trade completers out of an undergraduate enrollment of 761, and a location described as a remote town, this campus may suit students seeking hands-on trade training in a smaller-community setting, including adult learners considering a career change, though specific program lengths are not detailed here. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and review official outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

Montana State University-Northern offers programs in diesel mechanic schools, welding schools, plumbing schools, and auto-mechanic schools, with diesel mechanics, welding, and plumbing being the most awarded. In total the campus lists 5 trade-related program areas.

Is this school accredited, and by whom?

Yes, the school is accredited. It holds accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and its nursing programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?

Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal student aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used. About 33.1% of students at this campus receive Pell Grants.

What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?

This campus's own completion rate is not reported in federal data. The state average completion rate is 52.3%, but a direct comparison for this campus is not reported.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Graduates who borrowed carried a median debt of $18,500, according to federal data.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are $49,505, per federal data.

How much does it cost to attend for a year?

Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for current tuition figures.

Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?

This is a public school, which typically means it receives state funding and may offer lower in-state tuition compared to private institutions, though specific cost figures are not reported here.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Program length is not reported in the available data; contact the school at (406) 265-3700 or visit its website for details on program schedules.

How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?

You can verify accreditation with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and review official outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?180522.

Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?

The data does not directly address career-changer fit, but the school's hands-on trade programs (diesel mechanics, welding, plumbing) in a remote-town setting with 761 undergraduates may appeal to adults seeking focused technical training; contact the school to discuss scheduling options.

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can reach Montana State University-Northern at (406) 265-3700 or through its website at https://www.msun.edu/ for application details.

How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?

Comparative data with nearby schools is not reported in this dataset; consult the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?180522 to compare outcomes across institutions.

Other trade and career schools in Havre, MT

See all trade and career schools in Montana or search by ZIP code.

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.

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