Head-to-head comparison
Montana State University-Northern vs Blackfeet Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Havre, MT
Montana State University-Northern
- Net price / year
- $12,664
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,505
- Payback
- 44.2 yrs
Option B Browning, MT
Blackfeet Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,410
- Earnings, 10 years
- $22,953
- Payback
- No payback
Montana State University-Northern has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $50,656 in 44.2 years versus not at all at Blackfeet Community College, on median earnings of $49,505 vs $22,953 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Montana State University-Northern | Blackfeet Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,664 | $5,410 |
| Total net cost | $50,656 | $10,820 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,505 | $22,953 |
| Median debt | $18,500 | — |
| Payback | 44.2 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | -$27,756 | -$518,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Montana State University-Northern or Blackfeet Community College?
Blackfeet Community College, at $5,410 a year after aid versus $12,664 — a gap of $7,254 a year, or $39,836 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 Montana State University-Northern or Blackfeet Community College graduates earn more?
Montana State University-Northern graduates report a median $49,505 ten years after entry, $26,552 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 41% at Montana State University-Northern. 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.