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Great Falls College Montana State University

Public Associate Fair 53/100

Great Falls College Montana State University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Great Falls, Montana

About Great Falls College Montana State University

Great Falls College Montana State University is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Great Falls, Montana. It enrolls 894 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: gfcmsu.edu

Acceptance: Open
Graduation: —
Net Price: $12,468
Median Earnings (10yr): $38,034
Enrollment: 894
Student : Faculty: 16:1

Accreditor Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Fair

53/100

UCD Score · 2-Year

Outcomes 21

Value 42

Affordability 41

Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Great Falls College Montana State University generally admits all qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Great Falls College Montana State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $12,468 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$12,468

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

31%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

30%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $4,028
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $12,911
Room & Board (off-campus): $9,476
Books & Supplies: $1,400
Other Expenses (off-campus): $6,022
Total Cost of Attendance: $16,664

Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$10,675
$30,001 – $48,000

$10,624
$48,001 – $75,000

$11,778
$75,001 – $110,000

$16,535
Over $110,000

$16,664

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,750

10% percentile

$3,500

25% percentile

$16,500

75% percentile

$26,978

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $9,402 —

No Pell $6,334 —

Dependent students $5,500 —

Independent students $10,751 —

Female students $9,253 —

Male students $5,500 —

What this means: 31% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.

Graduation Rate & Retention

55% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

—

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

55%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Great Falls College Montana State University earn a median of $38,034 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$38,034

Earning > $25K

64%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$31,200

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$39,900

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$30,900

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$37,400

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$39,300

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $8,700, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 33.3 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 83% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Great Falls College Montana State University is home to 894 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 39% are first-generation college students, 43% study part-time.

Total Enrolled

894

Part-Time

43%

First-Generation

39%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 74.9% 670

Other 14.0% 125

Hispanic 8.3% 74

Asian 1.6% 14

Black 1.0% 9

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Great Falls College Montana State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Small City Great Falls, Montana

Housing

Commuter campus No on-campus housing

Adult Learners

34% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NAIA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Great Falls College Montana State University offers a varied set of programs: 17 distinct programs across 6 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

8 Programs

Health

Allied Health Diagnostic $71K ($51K–$96K)
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions $68K ($51K–$83K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)

2 Programs

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)
Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

2 Programs

Precision Production

1 Program

Business

Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

3 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Systems Analysis $79K ($57K–$110K)
Computer Systems Networking $74K ($51K–$102K)
Computer Programming $83K ($54K–$114K)

1 Program

Engineering Tech

Industrial Production Tech $81K ($61K–$99K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Great Falls College Montana State University is 16:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

16:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$7,931

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$11,300

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$60,557

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

31 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Instructors	31	100%	$60,557

Pros & Cons of Great Falls College Montana State University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Great Falls College Montana State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel

CONS

Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side

Best for: Based on the data, Great Falls College Montana State University is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Great Falls College Montana State University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Great Falls College Montana State University.

Is Great Falls College Montana State University hard to get into?

Great Falls College Montana State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.

What is the acceptance rate at Great Falls College Montana State University?

Great Falls College Montana State University has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does Great Falls College Montana State University cost?

The average net price after aid at Great Falls College Montana State University is $12,468 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Great Falls College Montana State University worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,034 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,468 per year. That's roughly 3.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Great Falls College Montana State University known for?

Great Falls College Montana State University is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Precision Metal Working, Allied Health Diagnostic. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Great Falls College Montana State University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Great Falls College Montana State University are $38,034, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Great Falls College Montana State University accredited?

Yes. Great Falls College Montana State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

How many students attend Great Falls College Montana State University?

Great Falls College Montana State University enrolls 894 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

Is Great Falls College Montana State University a public or private college?

Great Falls College Montana State University is a Public institution.

Where is Great Falls College Montana State University located?

Great Falls College Montana State University is located in Great Falls, Montana.

What programs does Great Falls College Montana State University offer?

Great Falls College Montana State University offers 17 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Precision Metal Working, Allied Health Diagnostic.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Great Falls College Montana State University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Great Falls College Montana State University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.