What You Should Know About Graduating From Community College in Montana
As you prepare for community college, you should consider your career and salary goals. Data from May 2020 shows that the top five highest-paying careers for associate degree holders in Montana were funeral home managers, radiation therapists, air traffic controllers, nuclear medicine technologists, and dental hygienists.
Associate degree holders entering the workforce should also consider which careers are more open to hiring new graduates. The occupations projected to have the most annual job openings over the next decade in Montana are forest and conservation technicians, paralegals and legal assistants, preschool teachers (excluding special education), architectural and civil drafters, and dental hygienists.
While some careers are expected to rise, others are expected to decline. The occupations in Montana that require an associate degree and are projected to undergo a drop in employment are air traffic controllers, broadcast technicians, chemical technicians, electrical engineering technicians, and engineering technicians (excluding drafters).
What’s Next?
As you examine community colleges, keep in mind the financial aid opportunities available to you. To help associate degree students fund their education, we’ve put together a list of federal and state resources for grants and scholarships in Montana.
- Montana Office of Public Instruction. The Montana Office of Public Instruction offers details about state tuition costs as well as information regarding the scholarships and loans that can be used to pay for tuition.
- Federal Student Aid. Each year, the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid provides over $120 billion in financial aid. To see if you are eligible, simply visit the FAFSA4caster. Then, you can apply by filling out the online FAFSA form.
- CareerOneStop. This resource, sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, facilitates access to scholarships, grants, and loans. Students can quickly find financial aid by filtering their search by degree level and state. The site also offers details about award amounts, qualifications, and deadlines.