Head-to-head comparison
Great Falls College Montana State University vs Miles Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Great Falls, MT
Great Falls College Montana State University
- Net price / year
- $12,468
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,034
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Miles City, MT
Miles Community College
- Net price / year
- $10,405
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,862
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Miles Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,862 against a $20,810 total, vs $38,034 at Great Falls College Montana State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Great Falls College Montana State University | Miles Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,468 | $10,405 |
| Total net cost | $24,936 | $20,810 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,034 | $42,862 |
| Median debt | — | $11,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$231,456 | -$130,770 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Great Falls College Montana State University or Miles Community College?
Miles Community College, at $10,405 a year after aid versus $12,468 — a gap of $2,063 a year, or $4,126 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 Great Falls College Montana State University or Miles Community College graduates earn more?
Miles Community College graduates report a median $42,862 ten years after entry, $4,828 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.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
62% of students finish at Miles Community College, 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.