Highlands College of Montana Tech
A good fit for families looking for lower cost and students who want small classes and close faculty access. graduation rate is below 40%. a public school with 342 students.
About This School
Highlands College of Montana Tech is a public institution located in Butte, Montana with approximately 342 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $14,962 per year. The graduation rate is 36%, and the typical graduate earns $52,100 within 10 years of enrollment.
Montana Technological University, popularly known as Montana Tech, is a public university in Butte, Montana. Founded in 1900 as the "Montana State School of Mines", the university became affiliated with the University of Montana in 1994. After undergoing several name changes, in 2017 the Montana University System Board of Regents voted to designate Montana Tech as part of Special Focus Four-Year Universities, the only such designation in the Montana University System. To recognize this new designation and the greater independence with it, the name was officially changed in 2018 from "Montana Tech of the University of Montana" to "Montana Technological University". Montana Tech's focus is on engineering, applied and health science.
Students drawn to hands-on technical and vocational training in a small, low-pressure environment will feel most at home here — this is a two-year technical college closely tied to Montana Tech's engineering and science reputation, serving a tight-knit community in Butte. The affordability is a real bright spot: an average net price of just under $15,000 per year is genuinely manageable, and graduates who complete programs carry a median debt of only $18,750, which is quite reasonable. That said, the 36% graduation rate is a serious concern and deserves an honest conversation — it suggests many students who start here don't finish, which can mean wasted time and money regardless of how affordable the path looks on paper. The median earnings of $52,100 ten years out aren't bad for a two-year credential, but success here depends heavily on completing a program rather than drifting out. My practical advice: if this is on your list, visit in person, talk directly to an advisor about completion rates within your specific program of interest, and have a clear plan for staying enrolled — because the value is real, but only for students who finish.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 37% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (342 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in Montana
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT · Public
The University of Montana
Missoula, MT · Public
Montana State University Billings
Billings, MT · Public
Montana Technological University
Butte, MT · Public
Flathead Valley Community College
Kalispell, MT · Public
The University of Montana-Western
Dillon, MT · Public
See How Colleges Compare
Highlands College of Montana Tech is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Highlands College of Montana Tech cost?
The average net price at Highlands College of Montana Tech is about $14,962 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Highlands College of Montana Tech?
Highlands College of Montana Tech has a graduation rate of 36%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
All school names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this page is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with CollegeHelpGuide.