Cost of college in Montana
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Montana averages $8,122 a year, or $19,194 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $49,030 and owe about $21,522. The net price pays back in about 11 years.
How Montana compares to the US
Montana ranks #40 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #44 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #48 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Montana | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $8,122 | $9,518 | -$1,396 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $30,485 | $23,652 | +$6,833 |
| Net price after aid | $19,194 | $13,788 | +$5,406 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $49,030 | $56,427 | -$7,397 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,522 | $17,856 | +$3,666 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Montana pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Montana costs about $76,776 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 11 years from the roughly $7,230-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #48 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Montana list about $33,448 in tuition and net out to about $19,527 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Montana?
At a public 4-year college in Montana, in-state tuition and fees average about $8,122 a year and out-of-state runs about $30,485. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $19,194. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Montana earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Montana's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $49,030 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $21,522 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Montana?
A public 4-year degree in Montana costs about $76,776 over four years at net price and recoups in about 11 years from the roughly $7,230-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.