Montana Technological University
Butte, Montana · Public · 91.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 69/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Montana Technological University in Butte scores 69 (Fair Value). The 10.7-year payback period and $48,100 average 6-year earnings are below what one would expect from a STEM-focused institution, but the 58.2% completion rate and limited program breadth pull the overall score down. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.390 is one of the school's strongest metrics, and the repayment rate of 84.9% is well above average - indicating graduates who do finish are managing debt successfully. Engineering programs produce the best outcomes; the nursing and public health programs are solid. Montana Tech's identity as a mining and resource engineering school gives it niche labor market connections that don't fully show up in broad earnings medians.
Montana Technological University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,340/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $26,150/yr |
| Average net price | $16,481/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $65,924 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,329 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $48,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $199 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 58.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,480 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $8,340/year ($26,150/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $16,481/year, or roughly $65,924 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $11,914/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,595/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,750, which works out to about $199 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($48,100) and comes to 0.39, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,914 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,733 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,187 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,843 |
| $110,001+ | $19,595 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $11,914 net price per year - about $47,656 over four years. At $48,100 average 6-year earnings, the payback is moderate but manageable for engineering and nursing graduates. The 58.2% completion rate is the primary risk for students in this income band.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $15,187 per year. Families in the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pay $18,843. Engineering students in these bands achieve strong returns.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $19,595 per year - about $78,000 over four years. At average earnings of $48,100, the payback extends to roughly a decade for non-engineering graduates. Engineering and petroleum engineering graduates achieve materially better returns that justify the full-pay cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at Montana Technological University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $81,504 | C+ |
| Civil Engineering | $80,327 | - |
| Mechanical Engineering | $82,443 | B+ |
| Management Information Systems | $58,332 | C |
| Public Health | $86,855 | B |
| Petroleum Engineering | $106,076 | B |
| Business Administration and Management | $61,446 | C+ |
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering | $93,629 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (34 graduates) earns $73,901 year-one and $82,443 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.348 (ROI grade B+). At an $8,340 in-state tuition, this is a genuinely strong return on a low-cost investment. Montana's manufacturing, mining, and energy sectors provide placement for ME graduates, and the four-year figure reflects advancement into senior roles.
Petroleum Engineering
Petroleum Engineering (15 graduates) earns $69,212 year-one and $106,076 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.390 (ROI grade B). The four-year jump to $106k reflects the energy industry's compensation structure for petroleum engineers. The small cohort limits certainty, but the trajectory is consistent with national PE salary data.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (51 graduates) earns $74,338 year-one and $81,504 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.482 (ROI grade C+). The C+ grade reflects elevated median debt of $35,839 - the highest in the catalog - against solid earnings.
Public Health
Public Health (20 graduates) earns $74,771 year-one and $86,855 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.361 (ROI grade B).
Management Information Systems
Management Information Systems (23 graduates) earns $42,543 year-one and $58,332 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.661 (ROI grade C).
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 77.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 84.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 63.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Montana Technological University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 91.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 530-630 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 510-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-25 |
| Enrollment | 1,480 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 23.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,585 |
Montana Tech's 91.1% admission rate and modest test score profile reflect its regional access mission, not a selective engineering filter. Program fit matters more than academic profile in this admission process - students who commit to engineering or technical fields are the target.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The 69 ROI score is modest but the repayment rate of 84.9% suggests graduates who complete the degree manage their financial outcomes well.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana Technological University (this school) | 69 | $16,481 | $54,329 |
| Charter Oak State College | 77 | $15,815 | $64,209 |
| University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online | 72 | $10,864 | $66,479 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg | 71 | $17,945 | $66,125 |
| Montana State University | 52 | $22,499 | $53,263 |
| Montana State University Billings | 34 | $16,524 | $44,296 |
Who Thrives Here
Montana Tech admits 91.1% of applicants with ACT mid-range 19-25 and SAT 530-630 Math. At 1,480 students it is a small, focused school. The program mix is narrow: engineering (petroleum, mechanical, civil, geological), nursing, public health, and business. Students who fit this profile get a specialized credential with real employer connections in the mining, energy, and healthcare sectors. Students seeking a broad liberal arts or social science education should look elsewhere.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Montana Technological University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $16,481 a year after aid ($65,924 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $54,329 a decade out, the cost takes about 10.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $18,750 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $48,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Montana Technological University: Common Questions
Is Montana Technological University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Montana Technological University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 69/100 on our ROI scale. At $16,481 a year after aid ($65,924 over four years) against $54,329 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 10.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Montana Technological University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $16,481 a year, or roughly $65,924 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Montana Technological University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $54,329 ten years after enrolling, roughly $12,529 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Montana Technological University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10.7 years for Montana Technological University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Montana Technological University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,750, against average earnings of $48,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Montana Technological University?
The six-year graduation rate is 58.2%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.