Is college still worth the cost in the Mountain West?

Is college still worth the cost in states like Wyoming and Montana?

Nationally, the answer seems clear because workers with a bachelor’s degree earn about 70% more than those with only a high school diploma. But in the Mountain West, where fewer residents attend college and wages tend to be lower, the equation is more complicated.

In Wyoming, only 37% of adults (25-65) have any college credentials, which is also much lower than the national average. In response, institutions like the University of Wyoming have expanded programs such as the Hathaway Scholarship, which offers a range of scholarship money for simply being a Wyoming high school graduate.

However, increasing attendance is only part of the story. The real question is whether the financial payoff of college in the long run justifies the cost for students in these rural economies.

At the University of Wyoming, graduates carry about $18,000 in median debt and earn roughly $56,880 about 10 years after enrollment, which is a relatively manageable debt-to-income ratio. Across the state, college graduates earn about $58,331 on average, or roughly 1.45 times more than high school graduates. While this is a meaningful financial boost, it is significantly smaller than what is seen nationally.

Meanwhile, students who start at Wyoming’s community colleges typically borrow closer to $9,000. While this reduces their financial risk, they often enter lower-paying career tracks unless they continue to a bachelor’s degree. These statistics suggest that while college generally pays off in Wyoming, the margin for error is narrower, and outcomes depend heavily on the educational path students choose.

Montana shows a similar pattern, with relatively moderate debt levels paired with more limited earning potential in a rural economy. At the University of Montana, typical federal loan debt for low-income students is about $17,000, while community college borrowers often take on $12,000 to $13,800, which is higher than their Wyoming counterparts.

Although detailed long-term earnings data are less centralized in Montana, regional trends suggest wage outcomes are comparable to Wyoming’s. Generally, students face similar constraints – modest salaries paired with sizeable debt. The result is a more inconsistent return on investment, where choosing a lower-paying major or failing to complete a degree can significantly weaken the financial payoff.

Ultimately, attending college in Wyoming and Montana still offers a financial advantage, but one that comes with tighter margins and greater risk than the national averages suggest. With moderate debt levels and comparatively modest earnings, students are more vulnerable to choosing a program that does not deliver a strong salary post graduation.

That reality underscores why students and policymakers need clearer, program-based data on earnings and debt to make informed decisions. One option to make this calculation easier is a concept Mountain States Policy Center is calling the Career Transparency Act or CTA.

The CTA would require states to make a variety of statistics and information publicly available to high school students considering a college path. Details such as workforce needs, a listing of wages, clear information about the cost of obtaining a degree, and more should all be made readily available via a Career Transparency Act.

In states where every dollar and opportunity matters, such as Wyoming and Montana, improving transparency could be just as important as expanding access, ensuring that students who attend college truly benefit from it.