Head-to-head comparison
Carroll College vs Rocky Mountain College: which has better ROI?
Option A Helena, MT
Carroll College
- Net price / year
- $23,960
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,772
- Payback
- 7.1 yrs
Option B Billings, MT
Rocky Mountain College
- Net price / year
- $19,751
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,036
- Payback
- 116.9 yrs
Carroll College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $95,840 in 7.1 years versus 116.9 years at Rocky Mountain College, on median earnings of $61,772 vs $49,036 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carroll College | Rocky Mountain College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,960 | $19,751 |
| Total net cost | $95,840 | $79,004 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,772 | $49,036 |
| Median debt | $25,757 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 7.1 yrs | 116.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $172,400 | -$65,484 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Carroll College or Rocky Mountain College?
Rocky Mountain College, at $19,751 a year after aid versus $23,960 — a gap of $4,209 a year, or $16,836 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Carroll College or Rocky Mountain College graduates earn more?
Carroll College graduates report a median $61,772 ten years after entry, $12,736 more than the $49,036 at Rocky Mountain 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Carroll College or Rocky Mountain College?
Carroll College: its completers carry a median $25,757 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Rocky Mountain College, a difference of $243. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Carroll College, against 48% at Rocky Mountain 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.