DCC vs. Flathead Valley Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Dawson Community College in Glendive, MT with Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell, MT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Flathead Valley Community College is larger than DCC based on total student enrollment (2,234 students vs. 332 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dawson Community College is located in Glendive, MT (Remote Town setting); Flathead Valley Community College is in Kalispell, MT (Rural Fringe setting).
• Dawson Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Flathead Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dawson Community College 13:1; Flathead Valley Community College 15:1.

DCC vs. Flathead Valley Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DCC or Flathead Valley Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Flathead Valley Community College than DCC ($8,874 vs. $10,909).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dawson Community College are 16.3% lower than at Flathead Valley Community College ($8,600 vs. $10,277).
• Dawson Community College is 12.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Flathead Valley Community College (about $797 more per year; $7,020.00 vs. $6,223.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.8% higher at Flathead Valley Community College than at Dawson Community College (about $1,849 more per year; $11,659.00 vs. $9,810.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dawson Community College than at Flathead Valley Community College (87% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dawson Community College students is 9.1% larger than aid received by Flathead Valley Community College students ($6,552 vs. $6,003).

DCC vs. Flathead Valley Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DCC or Flathead Valley Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Flathead Valley Community College and DCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DCC - Open admission; Flathead Valley Community College - Open admission.

DCC vs. Flathead Valley Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DCC and Flathead Valley Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Dawson Community College earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Flathead Valley Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,700 vs. $31,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dawson Community College graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Flathead Valley Community College graduates ($8,750 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, DCC graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Flathead Valley Community College graduates ($90 vs. $108).
• More DCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Flathead Valley Community College students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 49%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.