Flathead Valley Community College vs. Great Falls College Montana State University

Comparable Facts

Compare Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell, MT with Great Falls College Montana State University in Great Falls, MT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Flathead Valley Community College is larger than Great Falls College Montana State University based on total student enrollment (2,234 students vs. 1,502 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Flathead Valley Community College is located in Kalispell, MT (Rural Fringe setting); Great Falls College Montana State University is in Great Falls, MT (Small City setting).
• Flathead Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Great Falls College Montana State University is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Flathead Valley Community College 15:1; Great Falls College Montana State University 17:1.

Flathead Valley Community College vs. Great Falls College Montana State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Flathead Valley Community College or Great Falls College Montana State University? 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 Great Falls College Montana State University ($8,874 vs. $11,444).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Great Falls College Montana State University are 7.8% lower than at Flathead Valley Community College ($9,476 vs. $10,277).
• Flathead Valley Community College is 54.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Great Falls College Montana State University (about $2,195 more per year; $6,223.00 vs. $4,028.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.7% higher at Great Falls College Montana State University than at Flathead Valley Community College (about $1,252 more per year; $12,911.00 vs. $11,659.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Flathead Valley Community College than at Great Falls College Montana State University (69% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Great Falls College Montana State University students is 5.1% larger than aid received by Flathead Valley Community College students ($6,308 vs. $6,003).

Flathead Valley Community College vs. Great Falls College Montana State University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Flathead Valley Community College or Great Falls College Montana State University? 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 Great Falls College Montana State University and Flathead Valley Community College.

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

Flathead Valley Community College vs. Great Falls College Montana State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Flathead Valley Community College and Great Falls College Montana State University? 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 Great Falls College Montana State University earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than Flathead Valley Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,900 vs. $31,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Flathead Valley Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Great Falls College Montana State University students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 47%)

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.