The University of Montana vs Blackfeet Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but The University of Montana comes closer — median earnings $44,511 against a $67,136 total, vs $22,953 at Blackfeet Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The University of Montana | Blackfeet Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,784 | $5,410 |
| Total net cost | $67,136 | $10,820 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,511 | $22,953 |
| Median debt | $22,400 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$144,116 | -$518,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, The University of Montana or Blackfeet Community College?
Blackfeet Community College, at $5,410 a year after aid versus $16,784 — a gap of $11,374 a year, or $56,316 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do The University of Montana or Blackfeet Community College graduates earn more?
The University of Montana graduates report a median $44,511 ten years after entry, $21,558 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 48% at The University of Montana. 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.