Highlands College of Montana Tech — ROI, Cost & Payback
Highlands College of Montana Tech charges a net price of $14,962/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $59,848. Graduates earn a median $54,329 ten years after entry, $5,969/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 10 years — a 20-year net return of $59,532, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Highlands College of Montana Tech's 10-year payback ranks #792 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 38% of them, and #2 of 18 in Montana.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $14,962/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $59,848 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $54,329 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $5,969/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $18,750 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 10 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $59,532 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Highlands College of Montana Tech's own numbers. Net price $14,962 × 4 years = $59,848 total. Median earnings $54,329 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $5,969 a year of premium. $59,848 ÷ $5,969 = 10 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $59,532. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Highlands College of Montana Tech students graduate with?
A median $18,750 in federal loans among completers, or 35% of the $54,329 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Highlands College of Montana Tech students graduate?
45% finish their degree — 55% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $59,848 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $132,996 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Highlands College of Montana Tech expensive compared with other Montana colleges?
Its $14,962 net price runs $1,149 above the $13,813 median across the 18 Montana colleges we profile, or $4,596 more across the full degree.