Head-to-head comparison
Helena College University of Montana vs Blackfeet Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Helena, MT
Helena College University of Montana
- Net price / year
- $11,593
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,738
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Browning, MT
Blackfeet Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,410
- Earnings, 10 years
- $22,953
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Helena College University of Montana comes closer — median earnings $40,738 against a $23,186 total, vs $22,953 at Blackfeet Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Helena College University of Montana | Blackfeet Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,593 | $5,410 |
| Total net cost | $23,186 | $10,820 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,738 | $22,953 |
| Median debt | $14,580 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$175,626 | -$518,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Helena College University of Montana or Blackfeet Community College?
Blackfeet Community College, at $5,410 a year after aid versus $11,593 — a gap of $6,183 a year, or $12,366 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 Helena College University of Montana or Blackfeet Community College graduates earn more?
Helena College University of Montana graduates report a median $40,738 ten years after entry, $17,785 more than the $22,953 at Blackfeet 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.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
62% of students finish at Blackfeet Community College, against 33% at Helena College University of Montana. 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.