Highlands College of Montana Tech
Butte, MT 59701
About Highlands College of Montana Tech
Highlands College of Montana Tech is a public certificate and vocational school in Butte, Montana, enrolling about 342 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. Typical net price after grant aid is about $14,962 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $4,130. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $54,329 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Highlands College of Montana Tech charges 25% below the national public median tuition ($4,130).
- Versus the Montana median, sticker tuition is 17% below.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 44.66%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $54,329.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Highlands College of Montana Tech is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 808% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands College of Montana Tech | $4,130 | $14,962 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Montana (state median) | $4,961 | $12,030 | 24 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Highlands College of Montana Tech really?
Key findings
- Highlands College of Montana Tech charges 25% below the national public median tuition ($4,130).
- Versus the Montana median, sticker tuition is 17% below.
Highlands College of Montana Tech tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $4,130
Finding Highlands College of Montana Tech charges 25% below the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $4,130. That is 25% below the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Montana median ($4,961), sticker tuition is 17% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.3×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Highlands College of Montana Tech versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Highlands College of Montana Tech versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Highlands College of Montana Tech is $14,962.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $14,962 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $2,932 above the Montana median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $9 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Highlands College of Montana Tech, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Highlands College of Montana Tech: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Highlands College of Montana Tech—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$4,130
Out-of-state tuition
$10,950
Avg. net price
$14,962
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $11,650 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $13,183 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,314 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $17,091 |
| $110,001+ | $17,792 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $16,520. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Highlands College of Montana Tech is known for
Top program completions
- Lineworker60
- Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer19
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide19
- Carpentry/Carpenter14
- Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians7
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Highlands College of Montana Tech a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Highlands College of Montana Tech is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Highlands College of Montana Tech.
Campus
Location
Butte, MT
City / state
- ZIP
- 59701
- NCES locale
- Town remote
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is at the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Rocky Mountains
- Carnegie
- Associate's Colleges: High Vocational & Technical-High Nontraditional
Size
Enrollment
342
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 1,072
- Full-time share
- 81%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$18,750
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 13.45%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Highlands College of Montana Tech.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Highlands College of Montana Tech was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Highlands College of Montana Tech in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $3,226 | $8,193 | $9,648 |
| 2014 | $3,236 | $8,204 | $9,177 |
| 2015 | $3,263 | $8,380 | $8,881 |
| 2016 | $3,325 | $8,595 | $9,828 |
| 2017 | $3,351 | $8,974 | $9,156 |
| 2018 | $3,569 | $9,371 | $9,878 |
| 2019 | $3,580 | $9,380 | $10,284 |
| 2020 | $3,590 | $9,390 | $13,042 |
| 2021 | $3,590 | $9,390 | $12,079 |
| 2022 | $3,670 | $9,640 | $14,563 |
| 2023 | $3,980 | $10,370 | $12,184 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Highlands College of Montana Tech reported total enrollment of about 342 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 59% male and 41% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (75.1%), Two or More Races (7.9%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (7.9%). About 13.45% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 33.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
81.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Highlands College of Montana Tech in 2024 is 342 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,072 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
55.1%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
37.86% 100% Completion Time
44.66% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 37.86% of students graduating from Highlands College of Montana Tech completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Lineworker: 100% male / 0% female
- Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer: 11% male / 89% female
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide: 11% male / 89% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Highlands College of Montana Tech graduates earn a median of $54,329 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Highlands College of Montana Tech.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $54,329. Median federal loan debt: $18,750. Average net price used in cost models: $14,962.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Highlands College of Montana Tech graduates report median earnings of $54,329 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Highlands College of Montana Tech.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (14 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Highlands College of Montana Tech.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Highlands College of Montana Tech graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Highlands College of Montana Tech—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 75.6%
- Montana median 6.0 pp above median (69.6%)
- Rocky Mountains median 2.3 pp above median (73.3%)
- U.S. median 17.7 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $9,373
- Montana median 1.4× the median ($6,543)
- Rocky Mountains median 1.3× the median ($7,458)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,873
- Montana median 0.82× the median ($9,613)
- Rocky Mountains median 1.1× the median ($6,852)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Highlands College of Montana Tech at a glance
Highlands College of Montana Tech
Highlands College of Montana Tech is a public institution in Butte, MT, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Vocational & Technical-High Nontraditional.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- LineworkerRadiologic Technology/Science - RadiographerNursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian75.1%Two or More Races7.9%Race/ethnicity unknown7.9%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near Highlands College of Montana Tech
Other campuses in Butte, MT when available, plus nearby institutions in Montana.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Montana, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Highlands College of Montana Tech located?
Highlands College of Montana Tech is located in Butte, MT.
What is Highlands College of Montana Tech's tuition?
Highlands College of Montana Tech tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $4,130 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $14,962 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Highlands College of Montana Tech cost?
Reported tuition is $4,130 and average net price is $14,962 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,120 annually.
What explains Highlands College of Montana Tech's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($14,962), completion (44.7% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($54,329). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Highlands College of Montana Tech?
Highlands College of Montana Tech reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,072 students, White (75.1%), Two or More Races (7.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Highlands College of Montana Tech?
About 33.7% of students at Highlands College of Montana Tech are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Highlands College of Montana Tech earn?
Median earnings are $48,356 six years after entry and $54,329 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Highlands College of Montana Tech?
The 150%-time completion rate is 44.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Highlands College of Montana Tech students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $18,750.
Is Highlands College of Montana Tech public or private?
Highlands College of Montana Tech is a public institution located in Butte, MT.
Is Highlands College of Montana Tech an HBCU?
No. Highlands College of Montana Tech is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Highlands College of Montana Tech a tribal college?
No. Highlands College of Montana Tech is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.