Flathead Valley Community College vs Miles Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Miles Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,862 against a $20,810 total, vs $38,520 at Flathead Valley Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Flathead Valley Community College | Miles Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,099 | $10,405 |
| Total net cost | $16,198 | $20,810 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,520 | $42,862 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $11,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$212,998 | -$130,770 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Flathead Valley Community College or Miles Community College?
Flathead Valley Community College, at $8,099 a year after aid versus $10,405 — a gap of $2,306 a year, or $4,612 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 Miles Community College graduates earn more?
Miles Community College graduates report a median $42,862 ten years after entry, $4,342 more than the $38,520 at Flathead Valley 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 leaves students with less debt, Flathead Valley Community College or Miles Community College?
Flathead Valley Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $11,500 at Miles Community College, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
62% of students finish at Miles 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.