Head-to-head comparison
Montana State University vs Carroll College: which has better ROI?
Option A Bozeman, MT
Montana State University
- Net price / year
- $22,499
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,263
- Payback
- 18.4 yrs
Option B Helena, MT
Carroll College
- Net price / year
- $23,960
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,772
- Payback
- 7.1 yrs
Carroll College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $95,840 in 7.1 years versus 18.4 years at Montana State University, on median earnings of $61,772 vs $53,263 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Montana State University | Carroll College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,499 | $23,960 |
| Total net cost | $89,996 | $95,840 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,263 | $61,772 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $25,757 |
| Payback | 18.4 yrs | 7.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $8,064 | $172,400 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Montana State University or Carroll College?
Montana State University, at $22,499 a year after aid versus $23,960 — a gap of $1,461 a year, or $5,844 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 or Carroll College graduates earn more?
Carroll College graduates report a median $61,772 ten years after entry, $8,509 more than the $53,263 at 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 leaves students with less debt, Montana State University or Carroll College?
Montana State University: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $25,757 at Carroll College, a difference of $3,257. 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?
69% of students finish at Carroll College, against 57% at 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.