Helena College University of Montana is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Helena, Montana. It enrolls 585 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.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarSemester
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
52/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes21
Value48
Affordability28
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Helena College University of Montana 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 Helena College University of Montana 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 $11,593 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,593
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
18%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
17%
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)
$4,146
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,318
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,225
Books & Supplies
$2,085
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,157
Total Cost of Attendance
$15,819
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
$9,709
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,148
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,803
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,241
Over $110,000
$15,485
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.
$1,90010%percentile
$3,75025%percentile
$14,580Medianpercentile
$19,91275%percentile
$30,50090%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 $10,000
↓ $4,580
No Pell $8,148
↓ $6,432
Dependent students $7,000
↓ $7,580
Independent students $11,873
↓ $2,707
Female students $9,500
↓ $5,080
Male students $9,450
↓ $5,130
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,822, less than completers ($14,580), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
28% of full-time students who enrolled at Helena College University of Montana graduate within six years, and 57% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
28%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
57%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Helena College University of Montana earn a median of $40,738 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,738
Earning > $25K
67%
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
$30,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$52,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,900, about 34% 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 ↑
18.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Helena College University of Montana is home to 585 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students, 44% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
585
Part-Time
44%
First-Generation
36%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 76.1%445
Other 9.2%54
Hispanic 7.9%46
Black 0.7%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Helena College University of Montana. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityHelena, Montana
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
21%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Helena College University of Montana offers
a varied set of programs:
17 distinct programs across
7 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Helena College University of Montana is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,253
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$363,433
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$53,392
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
28 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
28
100%
$53,392
Pros & Cons of Helena College University of Montana
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Helena College University of Montana 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
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Helena College University of Montana 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 Helena College University of Montana
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Helena College University of Montana.
Is Helena College University of Montana hard to get into?
Helena College University of Montana has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Helena College University of Montana?
Helena College University of Montana has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Helena College University of Montana cost?
The average net price after aid at Helena College University of Montana is $11,593 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Helena College University of Montana worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,738 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,593 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Helena College University of Montana known for?
Helena College University of Montana is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Helena College University of Montana graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Helena College University of Montana are $40,738, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Helena College University of Montana accredited?
Yes. Helena College University of Montana is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Helena College University of Montana?
Helena College University of Montana enrolls 585 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Helena College University of Montana?
Helena College University of Montana graduates 28% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Helena College University of Montana a public or private college?
Helena College University of Montana is a Public institution.
Where is Helena College University of Montana located?
Helena College University of Montana is located in Helena, Montana.
What programs does Helena College University of Montana offer?
Helena College University of Montana offers 17 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Helena College University of Montana?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Helena College University of Montana is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Montana
Other colleges in Montana share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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