Highlands College of Montana Tech vs. Flathead Valley Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Highlands College of Montana Tech in Butte, 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 Highlands College of Montana Tech based on total student enrollment (2,234 students vs. 727 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highlands College of Montana Tech is located in Butte, MT (Rural Fringe setting); Flathead Valley Community College is in Kalispell, MT (Rural Fringe setting).
• Highlands College of Montana Tech is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Flathead Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highlands College of Montana Tech 14:1; Flathead Valley Community College 15:1.

Highlands College of Montana Tech vs. Flathead Valley Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highlands College of Montana Tech 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 Highlands College of Montana Tech ($8,874 vs. $13,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Flathead Valley Community College are 15.2% lower than at Highlands College of Montana Tech ($10,277 vs. $12,120).
• Flathead Valley Community College is 50.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highlands College of Montana Tech (about $2,093 more per year; $6,223.00 vs. $4,130.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.5% higher at Flathead Valley Community College than at Highlands College of Montana Tech (about $709 more per year; $11,659.00 vs. $10,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Flathead Valley Community College than at Highlands College of Montana Tech (69% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Flathead Valley Community College students is 31.6% larger than aid received by Highlands College of Montana Tech students ($6,003 vs. $4,560).

Highlands College of Montana Tech vs. Flathead Valley Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Highlands College of Montana Tech 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 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; Flathead Valley Community College - Open admission.

Highlands College of Montana Tech vs. Flathead Valley Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highlands College of Montana Tech 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 Highlands College of Montana Tech earn a median of about $19,400 more per year than Flathead Valley Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $31,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Flathead Valley Community College graduates have a $9,500 lower median loan debt than Highlands College of Montana Tech graduates ($10,500 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Flathead Valley Community College graduates have an estimated $98 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Highlands College of Montana Tech graduates ($108 vs. $206).
• More Highlands College of Montana Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Flathead Valley Community College students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.