Flathead Valley Community College vs Great Falls College Montana State University: which has better ROI?
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 $38,034 at Great Falls College Montana State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Flathead Valley Community College | Great Falls College Montana State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,099 | $12,468 |
| Total net cost | $16,198 | $24,936 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,520 | $38,034 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$212,998 | -$231,456 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Flathead Valley Community College or Great Falls College Montana State University?
Flathead Valley Community College, at $8,099 a year after aid versus $12,468 — a gap of $4,369 a year, or $8,738 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 Great Falls College Montana State University graduates earn more?
Flathead Valley Community College graduates report a median $38,520 ten years after entry, $486 more than the $38,034 at Great Falls College Montana State University. 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?
34% of students finish at Great Falls College Montana State University, 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.