Helena College University of Montana
#4 Best Online Colleges in Montana- Graduation Rate
- 37% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $40,738 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $11,593 B-
- 32% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 585
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.4 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Online Colleges in Montana.
Every $1 spent returns $19.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $852,442.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 37% — 36% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Helena College University of Montana
Helena College University of Montana is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 585
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Business & Marketing, Precision Production
Why students choose Helena College University of Montana
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $11,593 a year after grants and scholarships — 32% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,738 ten years after enrolling — 0% above the typical college, against $14,580 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 46% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.92 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Helena College University of Montana is a great fit for students looking for a close-knit learning environment with a focus on practical skills. With an enrollment of just 585 students, you can expect smaller class sizes that foster strong relationships with instructors. The top programs, including Humanities, Mechanic & Repair Tech, and Health Professions, reflect a commitment to hands-on training and career readiness, which is increasingly important in today’s job market.
After graduation, students can expect to earn about $40,738 a year on average after ten years. While that number may vary based on individual circumstances, it indicates a solid return on investment. The affordability of attending Helena College is also worth noting, especially since the net price after aid is around $11,593. This makes it accessible for many students, particularly those who may qualify for financial assistance, even though only 18% of students receive Pell Grants.
When it comes to the bottom line, the median debt for graduates stands at $14,580, which is manageable for many. Students who thrive here often have a hands-on approach and appreciate the smaller campus community. If you’re someone looking for a focused education that leads to practical career opportunities without taking on overwhelming debt, Helena College could be a good match for you.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Helena College University of Montana is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Helena College University of Montana? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Helena, Montana, Helena College University of Montana enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
- Retention Rate
- 55%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 42%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,927
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.41
- First-Gen Students
- 36%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Helena College University of Montana? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Helena College University of Montana is $11,318, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $11,593. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,709 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,580 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,146
- Out-of-State
- $11,318
- Avg Net Price
- $11,593
- Median Debt
- $14,580
- Pell Grant Rate
- 18%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 17%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,709
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,148
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,803
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,485
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Helena College University of Montana — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Helena College University of Montana Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Helena College University of Montana report median earnings of $40,738, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $37,317
- 8 Years
- $37,804
- 10 Years
- $40,738
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.36x
- Earning > $25K
- 57%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (39)
- 29%
- 100% (39)
- 29%
- 100% (39)
- 29%
- 100% (39)
- 29%
How Helena Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Helena College University of Montana Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Helena College University of Montana delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,593/year ($46,372 total). Graduates earn $40,738 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $898,814 in total earnings — a net gain of $852,442 (19.4× your investment). The median debt is $14,580, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 37% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $46,372
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $898,814
- Net Return
- $852,442
- ROI Multiple
- 19.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $11,593
- Median Debt
- $14,580
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Helena College University of Montana Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Helena College University of Montana is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.55%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 12.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $57,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.55%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 12.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 12.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $78,666
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $358,360
- Federal Grants
- $475,202
- Investment Income
- $61,262
Top Programs
The fields Helena College University of Montana awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 34%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 20% $48,724 early-career
- Business & Marketing 14% $42,081 early-career
- Precision Production 12% $41,405 early-career
- Health Professions 12% $68,105 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 5%
- Computer Science & IT 2% $48,104 early-career
- Criminal Justice 1% $54,760 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Helena College University of Montana's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Helena College University of Montana? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Helena, Montana, Helena College University of Montana enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Helena College University of Montana? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Helena College University of Montana is $11,318, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $11,593. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,709 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,580 in federal student loans.
Is Helena College University of Montana Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Helena College University of Montana report median earnings of $40,738, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Helena College University of Montana Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Helena College University of Montana is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.55%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 12.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $57,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Helena College University of Montana? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Helena College University of Montana. Its economic connectedness score is 0.92, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.09), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Helena College University of Montana.
- Ellsworth Community CollegeIowa Falls, IA · Close peer40% grad $40,562 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Glen Oaks Community CollegeCentreville, MI · Close peer40% grad $37,540 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of South Carolina-LancasterLancaster, SC · Close peer27% grad $39,426 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Great Falls College Montana State UniversityGreat Falls, MT · Close peer33% grad $38,034 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of South Carolina-SumterSumter, SC · Close peer38% grad $42,437 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Western Dakota Technical CollegeRapid City, SD · Close peer54% grad $40,240 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Helena College University of Montana? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Helena College University of Montana. Its economic connectedness score is 0.92, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.09), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note