The University of Montana vs Flathead Valley 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 $38,520 at Flathead Valley Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The University of Montana | Flathead Valley Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,784 | $8,099 |
| Total net cost | $67,136 | $16,198 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,511 | $38,520 |
| Median debt | $22,400 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$144,116 | -$212,998 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, The University of Montana or Flathead Valley Community College?
Flathead Valley Community College, at $8,099 a year after aid versus $16,784 — a gap of $8,685 a year, or $50,938 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 Flathead Valley Community College graduates earn more?
The University of Montana graduates report a median $44,511 ten years after entry, $5,991 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, The University of Montana or Flathead Valley Community College?
Flathead Valley Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $22,400 at The University of Montana, a difference of $11,900. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at The University of Montana, 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.