Great Falls College Montana State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Great Falls College Montana State University charges a net price of $12,468/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $24,936. Median earnings ten years after entry are $38,034, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Great Falls College Montana State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #14 of 18 Montana colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $12,468/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $24,936 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $38,034 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$10,326/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | — | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$231,456 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Great Falls College Montana State University's own numbers. Net price $12,468 × 2 years = $24,936 total. Median earnings $38,034 fall $10,326 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $24,936 bill in about 2.5 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
What share of Great Falls College Montana State University students graduate?
34% finish their degree — 66% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $24,936 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $73,341 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Great Falls College Montana State University expensive compared with other Montana colleges?
Its $12,468 net price runs $1,345 below the $13,813 median across the 18 Montana colleges we profile, and $2,690 less across the full degree.