Head-to-head comparison
Montana State University-Northern vs Highlands College of Montana Tech: 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 Butte, MT
Highlands College of Montana Tech
- Net price / year
- $14,962
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,329
- Payback
- 10 yrs
Highlands College of Montana Tech has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $59,848 in 10 years versus 44.2 years at Montana State University-Northern, on median earnings of $54,329 vs $49,505 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Montana State University-Northern | Highlands College of Montana Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,664 | $14,962 |
| Total net cost | $50,656 | $59,848 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,505 | $54,329 |
| Median debt | $18,500 | $18,750 |
| Payback | 44.2 yrs | 10 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$27,756 | $59,532 |
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 Highlands College of Montana Tech?
Montana State University-Northern, at $12,664 a year after aid versus $14,962 — a gap of $2,298 a year, or $9,192 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 Highlands College of Montana Tech graduates earn more?
Highlands College of Montana Tech graduates report a median $54,329 ten years after entry, $4,824 more than the $49,505 at Montana State University-Northern. 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-Northern or Highlands College of Montana Tech?
Montana State University-Northern: its completers carry a median $18,500 in federal loans versus $18,750 at Highlands College of Montana Tech, a difference of $250. 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?
45% of students finish at Highlands College of Montana Tech, 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.