Helena, Montana Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Helena, Montana: median public in-state tuition $22,815 (+313.9% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $61,772 (+13.6% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 94.6% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $20,168 (+52.0% vs U.S.) 1,677 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 1,677 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $22,815 (+313.9% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $61,772 (+13.6% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 94.6% (+6.6 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $17,776 (+78.3% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $20,168 (+52.0% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $10,555
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 69.3%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 82.0%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Helena serve students across Montana with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 1,677 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $22,815. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Helena, Montana and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Helena vs Montana & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena, Montana | $22,815 | $17,776 | $20,168 | 69.3% | 1,677 |
| Montana (state median) | $4,897 | $12,030 | $18,500 | 45.0% | 36,239 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Helena, Montana vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena, Montana | $61,772 | 94.6% | 82.0% | 2.0% | — | 87.4% | 0.42 |
| Montana (state median) | $49,036 | 91.3% | 74.8% | 7.6% | — | 78.2% | 0.42 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Montana (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena, Montana | $22,815 | $17,776 | $20,168 | 69.3% | 1,677 | $61,772 | 94.6% |
| Bozeman | $8,460 | $19,581 | $22,500 | 57.1% | 14,490 | $53,263 | 88.5% |
| Billings | $10,960 | $16,524 | $18,209 | 39.2% | 3,570 | $46,666 | 90.1% |
| Butte | $6,235 | $15,722 | $18,750 | 58.2% | 1,822 | $54,329 | 87.6% |
| Great Falls | $17,238 | $15,935 | $14,292 | 27.9% | 1,548 | $48,296 | 91.3% |
| Kalispell | $4,912 | $7,422 | $10,500 | N/A | 1,281 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Helena, Montana by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 69.3%, Carroll College
Carroll College
Top college in Helena, Montana by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 94.6%, Carroll College
Carroll College
Most selective college in Helena, Montana (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 70.9%, Carroll College
Carroll College
Top college in Helena, Montana by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $75,007, Carroll College
Carroll College
Top college in Helena, Montana by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $80,878, Carroll College
Carroll College
Top college in Helena, Montana by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $43,507, Carroll College
Carroll College
Top college in Helena, Montana by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $56,040, Carroll College
Carroll College
Top college in Helena, Montana by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $61,772, Carroll College
Carroll College
Top college in Helena, Montana by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $150,198, Carroll College
Carroll College
Most affordable college in Helena, Montana (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $23,960, Carroll College
Carroll College
Top college in Helena, Montana by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 82.0%, Carroll College
Carroll College
In-state tuition: Helena, Montana vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Helena, Montana median in-state tuition is $22,815, +313.9% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Helena, Montana vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Helena, Montana is $20,168 (+52.0% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $10,555.
Median earnings (10 years out): Helena, Montana vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Helena, Montana center around $61,772 (+13.6% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Helena, Montana vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 94.6% at the median Helena, Montana campus (+6.6 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Helena, Montana median public in-state tuition is $22,815, about +313.9% vs the national median. Versus the Rocky Mountains region, tuition is +364.5%.
Median graduate debt is $20,168 (+52.0% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Helena, Montana are $61,772, about +13.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 94.6% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+6.6 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 82.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 2.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 87.4% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Carroll College (94.6%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Helena, Montana is 69.3% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Helena?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Helena, Montana with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Helena?
Median in-state tuition in Helena is $22,815 and median net price is $17,776. For Montana overall, medians are $4,897 and $12,030; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Helena?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Helena is $61,772 vs $49,036 for Montana and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Helena colleges?
Median completer debt in Helena is $20,168 vs $18,500 for Montana and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Helena?
Top campuses on this page include Carroll College (graduation) and Carroll College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Helena?
Among 2 campuses in Helena, Montana, 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (1).
Sources & related
- Montana college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON