Montana State University Billings vs Fort Peck Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Montana State University Billings comes closer — median earnings $44,296 against a $66,096 total, vs $14,747 at Fort Peck Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Montana State University Billings | Fort Peck Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,524 | $400 |
| Total net cost | $66,096 | $800 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,296 | $14,747 |
| Median debt | $18,209 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$147,376 | -$673,060 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Montana State University Billings or Fort Peck Community College?
Fort Peck Community College, at $400 a year after aid versus $16,524 — a gap of $16,124 a year, or $65,296 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Montana State University Billings or Fort Peck Community College graduates earn more?
Montana State University Billings graduates report a median $44,296 ten years after entry, $29,549 more than the $14,747 at Fort Peck 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?
30% of students finish at Montana State University Billings, against 17% at Fort Peck 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.