The University of Montana vs Great Falls College Montana State University: 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 $38,034 at Great Falls College Montana State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The University of Montana | Great Falls College Montana State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,784 | $12,468 |
| Total net cost | $67,136 | $24,936 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,511 | $38,034 |
| Median debt | $22,400 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$144,116 | -$231,456 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, The University of Montana or Great Falls College Montana State University?
Great Falls College Montana State University, at $12,468 a year after aid versus $16,784 — a gap of $4,316 a year, or $42,200 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 Great Falls College Montana State University graduates earn more?
The University of Montana graduates report a median $44,511 ten years after entry, $6,477 more than the $38,034 at Great Falls College Montana State University. 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?
48% of students finish at The University of Montana, against 34% at Great Falls College Montana State University. 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.