Salish Kootenai College
#3 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana- Graduation Rate
- 32% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $32,725 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $7,945 B+
- 54% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 580
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.8 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Most Affordable Colleges in Montana.
Every $1 spent returns $23.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $724,768.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduate earnings fall 20% below the national college median.
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Graduation of 32% — 44% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $23.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Salish Kootenai College
Salish Kootenai College 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
- Tribal College
- Enrollment
- 580
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Education, Business & Marketing, Psychology
Why students choose Salish Kootenai College
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 $7,945 a year after grants and scholarships — 54% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $32,725 ten years after enrolling — 20% below the typical college, against $12,923 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.44 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Salish Kootenai College, located in Pablo, MT, serves about 580 students, making it a tight-knit environment where personal connections can flourish. Students here often pursue degrees in Health Professions, Education, Business & Marketing, Psychology, and Transportation. This focus on practical, career-oriented fields means that graduates are equipped with the skills needed to enter the workforce effectively.
Looking at life after graduation, students can expect to earn about $32,725 in their first decade post-degree. This figure isn’t just a number; it shows a pathway to financial stability, especially considering that nearly 58% of students receive Pell Grants, which help make education more accessible. While the graduation rate is 32%, it’s important to remember that many who do graduate are able to find meaningful employment in their chosen fields.
When it comes to the financial aspect, the net price after aid is around $7,945, which can make this college an affordable option for many families. The median debt for graduates is about $12,923. This manageable debt load, combined with a focus on career-ready programs, tends to attract students who are looking for a solid return on their investment in education. Those who thrive here often value community, are motivated to make a difference, and appreciate the support that comes from a smaller college environment.
Rankings
- #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana
- #6 Best Education Colleges in Montana
- #6 Most Affordable Online Master's in Engineering
- #6 Most Affordable Online Master's in Mechanical Engineering
- #6 Most Affordable Online Master's in Electrical Engineering
- #6 Most Affordable Online Master's in Civil Engineering
- #8 Best Master's Programs in Montana
- #8 Best Nursing Colleges in Montana
Can I Get In?
How selective Salish Kootenai College 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 Salish Kootenai College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Pablo, Montana, Salish Kootenai College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.
- Retention Rate
- 82%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 57%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,893
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 5:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.95
- First-Gen Students
- 45%
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 Salish Kootenai College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Salish Kootenai College is $11,583, 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 $7,945. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,999 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,923 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,311
- Out-of-State
- $11,583
- Avg Net Price
- $7,945
- Median Debt
- $12,923
- Pell Grant Rate
- 58%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 16%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,999
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,221
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,502
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 Salish Kootenai College — 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 Salish Kootenai College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Salish Kootenai College report median earnings of $32,725, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $28,894
- 8 Years
- $29,606
- 10 Years
- $32,725
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.39x
- Earning > $25K
- 36%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (4)
- 15%
- 100% (4)
- 15%
- 100% (4)
- 15%
- 100% (4)
- 15%
How Salish Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Salish Kootenai College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Salish Kootenai College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,945/year ($31,780 total). Graduates earn $32,725 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $756,548 in total earnings — a net gain of $724,768 (23.8× your investment). The median debt is $12,923, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 32% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $31,780
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $756,548
- Net Return
- $724,768
- ROI Multiple
- 23.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,945
- Median Debt
- $12,923
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 32%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-964,014
Top Programs
The fields Salish Kootenai College 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.
- Health Professions 30%
- Education 21%
- Business & Marketing 14%
- Psychology 6%
- Computer Science & IT 4%
- Transportation 4% $28,519 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 2%
- Visual & Performing Arts 2%
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 Salish Kootenai College'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
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Salish Kootenai College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Pablo, Montana, Salish Kootenai College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Salish Kootenai College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Salish Kootenai College is $11,583, 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 $7,945. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,999 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,923 in federal student loans.
Is Salish Kootenai College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Salish Kootenai College report median earnings of $32,725, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Salish Kootenai College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Salish Kootenai College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.44, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Salish Kootenai College.
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Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Salish Kootenai College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Salish Kootenai College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.44, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note