Degree Dividend
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Flathead Valley Community College vs Blackfeet Community College: which has better ROI?

Public, Kalispell MT · vs · Private nonprofit, Browning MT

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Flathead Valley Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,520 against a $16,198 total, vs $22,953 at Blackfeet Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureFlathead Valley Community CollegeBlackfeet Community College
Net price / yr$8,099$5,410
Total net cost$16,198$10,820
Median earnings, 10 yrs$38,520$22,953
Median debt$10,500
Payback
20-year net return-$212,998-$518,960

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Flathead Valley Community College or Blackfeet Community College?

Blackfeet Community College, at $5,410 a year after aid versus $8,099 — a gap of $2,689 a year, or $5,378 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Flathead Valley Community College or Blackfeet Community College graduates earn more?

Flathead Valley Community College graduates report a median $38,520 ten years after entry, $15,567 more than the $22,953 at Blackfeet Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.

Which graduates more of its students?

62% of students finish at Blackfeet Community College, against 29% at Flathead Valley Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.

Flathead Valley Community College vs Blackfeet Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Flathead Valley Community College or Blackfeet Community College a better value?
Flathead Valley Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Flathead Valley Community College or Blackfeet Community College?
Blackfeet Community College: $5,410/yr net price after aid versus $8,099/yr at Flathead Valley Community College — a difference of $2,689 a year, or about $5,378 over four years.
Do Flathead Valley Community College or Blackfeet Community College graduates earn more?
Flathead Valley Community College graduates earn a median $38,520 ten years after entry, versus $22,953 at Blackfeet Community College — a $15,567 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.