Highlands College of Montana Tech vs. DCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Highlands College of Montana Tech in Butte, MT with Dawson Community College in Glendive, MT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Highlands College of Montana Tech is larger than DCC based on total student enrollment (727 students vs. 332 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highlands College of Montana Tech is located in Butte, MT (Rural Fringe setting); Dawson Community College is in Glendive, MT (Remote Town setting).
• Highlands College of Montana Tech is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Dawson Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highlands College of Montana Tech 14:1; Dawson Community College 13:1.

Highlands College of Montana Tech vs. DCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highlands College of Montana Tech or DCC? 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 Dawson Community College than Highlands College of Montana Tech ($10,909 vs. $13,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dawson Community College are 29% lower than at Highlands College of Montana Tech ($8,600 vs. $12,120).
• Dawson Community College is 70% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highlands College of Montana Tech (about $2,890 more per year; $7,020.00 vs. $4,130.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.6% higher at Highlands College of Montana Tech than at Dawson Community College (about $1,140 more per year; $10,950.00 vs. $9,810.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dawson Community College than at Highlands College of Montana Tech (87% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dawson Community College students is 43.7% larger than aid received by Highlands College of Montana Tech students ($6,552 vs. $4,560).

Highlands College of Montana Tech vs. DCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Highlands College of Montana Tech or DCC? 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 DCC and Highlands College of Montana Tech.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Highlands College of Montana Tech - Open admission; DCC - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman Highlands College of Montana Tech students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.03) than students at DCC (2.99).

Highlands College of Montana Tech vs. DCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highlands College of Montana Tech and DCC? 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 Highlands College of Montana Tech earn a median of about $12,700 more per year than DCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $37,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dawson Community College graduates have a $11,250 lower median loan debt than Highlands College of Montana Tech graduates ($8,750 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, DCC graduates have an estimated $116 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Highlands College of Montana Tech graduates ($90 vs. $206).
• More Highlands College of Montana Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DCC students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 55%)

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.