Head-to-head comparison
Montana State University Billings vs Flathead Valley Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Billings, MT
Montana State University Billings
- Net price / year
- $16,524
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,296
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Kalispell, MT
Flathead Valley Community College
- Net price / year
- $8,099
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,520
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Montana State University Billings comes closer — median earnings $44,296 against a $66,096 total, vs $38,520 at Flathead Valley Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Montana State University Billings | Flathead Valley Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,524 | $8,099 |
| Total net cost | $66,096 | $16,198 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,296 | $38,520 |
| Median debt | $18,209 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$147,376 | -$212,998 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Montana State University Billings or Flathead Valley Community College?
Flathead Valley Community College, at $8,099 a year after aid versus $16,524 — a gap of $8,425 a year, or $49,898 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 Montana State University Billings or Flathead Valley Community College graduates earn more?
Montana State University Billings graduates report a median $44,296 ten years after entry, $5,776 more than the $38,520 at Flathead Valley 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 leaves students with less debt, Montana State University Billings or Flathead Valley Community College?
Flathead Valley Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $18,209 at Montana State University Billings, a difference of $7,709. 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?
30% of students finish at Montana State University Billings, against 29% at Flathead Valley Community 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.