Great Falls College Montana State University vs Salish Kootenai College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Great Falls College Montana State University comes closer — median earnings $38,034 against a $24,936 total, vs $32,725 at Salish Kootenai College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Great Falls College Montana State University | Salish Kootenai College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,468 | $7,945 |
| Total net cost | $24,936 | $15,890 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,034 | $32,725 |
| Median debt | — | $12,923 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$231,456 | -$328,590 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Great Falls College Montana State University or Salish Kootenai College?
Salish Kootenai College, at $7,945 a year after aid versus $12,468 — a gap of $4,523 a year, or $9,046 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Great Falls College Montana State University or Salish Kootenai College graduates earn more?
Great Falls College Montana State University graduates report a median $38,034 ten years after entry, $5,309 more than the $32,725 at Salish Kootenai 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?
34% of students finish at Great Falls College Montana State University, against 28% at Salish Kootenai 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.