Highlands College of Montana Tech is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Butte, Montana. It enrolls 342 students (a very small, intimate 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.
Good
55/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes37
Value50
Affordability20
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Highlands College of Montana Tech 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 Highlands College of Montana Tech 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 $14,962 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,962
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
13%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
21%
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)
$4,130
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$10,950
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,120
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,120
Books & Supplies
$1,240
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,682
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,682
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,476
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
$11,650
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,183
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,314
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,091
Over $110,000
$17,792
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.
$2,75010%percentile
$4,75025%percentile
$18,750Medianpercentile
$25,57575%percentile
$37,52590%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 $11,737
↓ $7,013
No Pell $8,750
↓ $10,000
Dependent students $8,250
↓ $10,500
Independent students $13,217
↓ $5,533
Female students $10,168
↓ $8,582
Male students $9,549
↓ $9,201
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,523, less than completers ($18,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
37% of full-time students who enrolled at Highlands College of Montana Tech graduate within six years, and 59% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
37%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
59%
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 Highlands College of Montana Tech earn a median of $54,329 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$54,329
Earning > $25K
76%
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
$41,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$61,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$43,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$50,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$68,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $19,900, about 32% 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 ↑
12.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 90% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Highlands College of Montana Tech is home to 342 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 34% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
342
Part-Time
19%
First-Generation
34%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 75.2%257
Other 10.8%37
Hispanic 3.5%12
Asian 1.5%5
Black 1.2%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Highlands College of Montana Tech. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteButte, Montana
Housing
Strongly residential460 beds for 342 students
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Branch campus
What You Can Study
Highlands College of Montana Tech offers
a varied set of programs:
11 distinct programs across
8 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 Highlands College of Montana Tech is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Pros & Cons of Highlands College of Montana Tech
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Highlands College of Montana Tech 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
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Highlands College of Montana Tech is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Highlands College of Montana Tech
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Highlands College of Montana Tech.
Is Highlands College of Montana Tech hard to get into?
Highlands College of Montana Tech has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Highlands College of Montana Tech?
Highlands College of Montana Tech has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Highlands College of Montana Tech cost?
The average net price after aid at Highlands College of Montana Tech is $14,962 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Highlands College of Montana Tech worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,329 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,962 per year. That's roughly 3.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Highlands College of Montana Tech known for?
Highlands College of Montana Tech is best known for its programs in Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Allied Health Diagnostic, Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Highlands College of Montana Tech graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Highlands College of Montana Tech are $54,329, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Highlands College of Montana Tech accredited?
Yes. Highlands College of Montana Tech is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Highlands College of Montana Tech?
Highlands College of Montana Tech enrolls 342 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Highlands College of Montana Tech?
Highlands College of Montana Tech graduates 37% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Highlands College of Montana Tech a public or private college?
Highlands College of Montana Tech is a Public institution.
Where is Highlands College of Montana Tech located?
Highlands College of Montana Tech is located in Butte, Montana.
What programs does Highlands College of Montana Tech offer?
Highlands College of Montana Tech offers 11 distinct programs. The most popular include Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Allied Health Diagnostic, Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Highlands College of Montana Tech?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Highlands College of Montana Tech is 13:1, 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.
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Precision Metal Working
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