Best Colleges in Montana by ROI
Trying to find the best value in Montana? We ranked all 10 colleges we track here on what graduates actually earn versus what families actually pay, using U.S. Department of Education data. Montana Technological University comes out on top at 69/100 - here's how every school compares.
We scored all 10 Montana colleges in our dataset from 0 to 100 on one thing: financial return. The state averages 42/100, on an average net price of $17,082 a year after grants and scholarships. The school that does best by your money is Montana Technological University at 69/100.
Graduates of Carroll College earn the most ten years out of any school in the state, a median $61,772. The lightest price tag belongs to Salish Kootenai College at $7,945 a year. The list below ranks every Montana college we scored by ROI, so you can weigh what you'd pay against what you'd likely earn.
Top 10 Montana Colleges by ROI Score
- 1Montana Technological UniversityButte, MT · PublicNet price$16,481/yrMedian earnings$54,32969ROI
- 2Carroll CollegeHelena, MT · Private NonprofitNet price$23,960/yrMedian earnings$61,77266ROI
- 3Montana State University-NorthernHavre, MT · PublicNet price$12,664/yrMedian earnings$49,50555ROI
- 4Montana State UniversityBozeman, MT · PublicNet price$22,499/yrMedian earnings$53,26352ROI
- 5University of ProvidenceGreat Falls, MT · Private NonprofitNet price$17,649/yrMedian earnings$48,29635ROI
- 6Rocky Mountain CollegeBillings, MT · Private NonprofitNet price$19,751/yrMedian earnings$49,03635ROI
- 7Montana State University BillingsBillings, MT · PublicNet price$16,524/yrMedian earnings$44,29634ROI
- 8The University of MontanaMissoula, MT · PublicNet price$16,784/yrMedian earnings$44,51133ROI
- 9The University of Montana-WesternDillon, MT · PublicNet price$16,558/yrMedian earnings$43,22927ROI
- 10Salish Kootenai CollegePablo, MT · PublicNet price$7,945/yrMedian earnings$32,72518ROI
Montana College ROI: Common Questions
What is the best-value college in Montana?
Montana Technological University has the highest ROI score in Montana at 69/100, while the lowest net price among Montana schools we track is $7,945/year at Salish Kootenai College. Rankings are based on net price and median graduate earnings from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
How much does college cost in Montana?
The average net price across the 10 Montana colleges in our dataset is $17,082 per year, after grants and scholarships are applied. Actual cost varies widely by family income and institution.
Which Montana college has the highest graduate earnings?
Carroll College reports the highest median earnings among Montana schools we scored, at $61,772 ten years after enrollment. Higher earnings do not always mean better ROI, since cost matters just as much.
How many colleges in Montana did CampusROI analyze?
We scored 10 colleges in Montana on return on investment. Of those, 2 earn an ROI score of 60 or higher. See our methodology for how each score is calculated.
All Montana Schools by ROI Score
10 schools
Montana Technological University
Butte, MT
Carroll College
Helena, MT
Montana State University-Northern
Havre, MT
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT
University of Providence
Great Falls, MT
Rocky Mountain College
Billings, MT
Montana State University Billings
Billings, MT
The University of Montana
Missoula, MT
The University of Montana-Western
Dillon, MT
Salish Kootenai College
Pablo, MT
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release