Highlands College of Montana Tech vs. Miles Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Highlands College of Montana Tech is larger than Miles Community College based on total student enrollment (727 students vs. 710 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Highlands College of Montana Tech vs. Miles Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highlands College of Montana Tech or Miles 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 Miles Community College than Highlands College of Montana Tech ($11,625 vs. $13,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Miles Community College are 30.7% lower than at Highlands College of Montana Tech ($8,405 vs. $12,120).
• Miles Community College is 79.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highlands College of Montana Tech (about $3,282 more per year; $7,412.00 vs. $4,130.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3% higher at Highlands College of Montana Tech than at Miles Community College (about $324 more per year; $10,950.00 vs. $10,626.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Miles Community College than at Highlands College of Montana Tech (93% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Miles Community College students is 19.7% larger than aid received by Highlands College of Montana Tech students ($5,459 vs. $4,560).

Highlands College of Montana Tech vs. Miles Community College Admissions comparison

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

Highlands College of Montana Tech vs. Miles Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highlands College of Montana Tech and Miles 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 $9,200 more per year than Miles Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $41,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Miles Community College graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than Highlands College of Montana Tech graduates ($12,000 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Miles Community College graduates have an estimated $82 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Highlands College of Montana Tech graduates ($124 vs. $206).
• More Miles Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Highlands College of Montana Tech students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 58%)

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.