The University of Montana-Western vs Little Big Horn College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but The University of Montana-Western comes closer — median earnings $43,229 against a $66,232 total, vs $21,152 at Little Big Horn College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The University of Montana-Western | Little Big Horn College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,558 | $8,331 |
| Total net cost | $66,232 | $16,662 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,229 | $21,152 |
| Median debt | $21,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$168,852 | -$560,822 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, The University of Montana-Western or Little Big Horn College?
Little Big Horn College, at $8,331 a year after aid versus $16,558 — a gap of $8,227 a year, or $49,570 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-Western or Little Big Horn College graduates earn more?
The University of Montana-Western graduates report a median $43,229 ten years after entry, $22,077 more than the $21,152 at Little Big Horn 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?
51% of students finish at The University of Montana-Western, against 11% at Little Big Horn 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.