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Net Price of Montana Colleges by Income

Cost of Montana Colleges Zoom In

Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2023

Questions & Answers

What do all these numbers mean?

All costs shown here are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket for one year at the college in question. Net cost is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Figures are based on data from the 2020-21 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2023.

What is “Total Cost” on the chart?

Total cost is the total cost of attendance for one year at that particular college. It includes:

  • Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
  • Room and board (on campus)
  • Books and supplies
  • Other expenses (travel and personal)

There are detailed chart below for each school that shows these expenses. Click here to go to the individual cost breakdown for schools.

How can I use this information?

This information is useful for building a realistic college budget. It's a good place to start until you better understand your specific circumstances. For example, let's say your income is $100,000 per year. This chart shows that the average state school would run $17,516 and the average private school would be $23,931. You can also get information on specific Montana schools in the chart above or the tables below.

Will my family pay the amount on this chart?

Probably not. The numbers are averages. You may be below average or above average. However, there are two key points we can learn from this data:

  1. Families with higher incomes ($75,000-$110,000 and $110,000+) will most likely pay close to full price at the public schools.
  2. Private colleges have a higher list price but offer more discounts. This brings their net price much closer to the cost of state-funded schools.

Where did this information come from?

As part of federal financial aid, colleges are required to provide detailed cost information to the U.S. government. This data is made available to the public through the National Center for Education Statistics. For more details, click here.

What about athletes, merit aid or minority students?

Athletes, high achieving students, and those with minority status are averaged in with everyone else. Within each income bracket, there are families that pay more than average and families that pay less than average.

The costs on this chart seem large. How can families afford to pay it?

For many families paying for college is not easy, but in the end they figure out. Most families will pay their net cost of college with some combination of:

  • College savings and investments
  • Payments from current income
  • Loans
  • Outside scholarships (check out the Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents to learn how your student can win scholarships)
  • Tax planning
  • Student work
Cost of Montana Schools Explanation

Net Price:

Net prices is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus the average amount in government grants and institutional scholarships the school awards. This is an average, so you may pay above the average or below the average. Your exact net price is likely to be different and sometimes drastically different.

Most families will pay the net price with some combination of savings and investments, current income and various loans. Some students will also receive scholarships from sources other than the federal or state government or the college. Any scholarships and grants from these outside sources are not included in the data. However, government grants and institutional scholarships are included in the averages.

Total Cost at The University of Montana (2020-21)
Tuition and Fees $7,430
Room and Board $10,154
Books $1,100
Other Expenses $3,592
Total $22,276

Total Cost:

Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2020-21 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2023. Total costs include:

  • Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
  • Room and board (on campus)
  • Books and supplies
  • Other expenses (travel and personal)

College Total Cost
Family Income MT Public $20,590 MT Private $45,688
$0 - $30k $11,577 $17,792
$30,001 – $48k $12,916 $18,878
$48,001 – $75k $15,154 $20,449
$75,001 – $110k $17,516 $23,931
$110,001+ $18,093 $25,417

Public vs. Private Averages

This table shows the average total cost of attendance for the Montana public and private colleges we have included in our analysis. The costs include a breakdown of the average net price paid by family income. Notice that the average private college is $6,000-$8,000 more than the average public school, depending on your income bracket. It is important to stress that these are averages. Most families will not be average, and their individual circumstances could be drastically different. I encourage all families to work with their preferred colleges to get information specific to their family.

Below are similar charts for each individual private and public college in Montana. Click a school to view its complete chart.

Public MT Schools Cost Breakdown

  • Montana State University-Billings

    Billings
    Year 2020-21 2021-22
    Tuition and Fees $5,980 $6,022
    Room and Board $7,600 $7,956
    Books $1,540 $1,540
    Other Expenses $4,630 $4,740
    Total $19,750 $20,258
    Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated)
    $0-$30k $12,220 $12,534
    $30,001 - $48k $11,963 $12,271
    $48,001 - $75k $15,904 $16,313
    $75,001 - $110k $17,003 $17,440
    $110,001+ $17,260 $17,704
  • Montana Tech of the University of Montana

    Butte
    Year 2020-21 2021-22
    Tuition and Fees $7,390 $7,400
    Room and Board $10,198 $10,658
    Books $1,340 $1,320
    Other Expenses $4,076 $4,382
    Total $23,004 $23,760
    Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated)
    $0-$30k $10,533 $10,879
    $30,001 - $48k $14,290 $14,760
    $48,001 - $75k $15,045 $15,539
    $75,001 - $110k $18,249 $18,849
    $110,001+ $18,368 $18,972
  • Montana State University

    Bozeman
    Year 2020-21 2021-22
    Tuition and Fees $7,371 $7,528
    Room and Board $10,400 $10,400
    Books $1,450 $1,450
    Other Expenses $3,838 $3,908
    Total $23,059 $23,286
    Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated)
    $0-$30k $16,012 $16,170
    $30,001 - $48k $16,729 $16,894
    $48,001 - $75k $19,466 $19,658
    $75,001 - $110k $21,963 $22,179
    $110,001+ $22,308 $22,528
  • The University of Montana

    Missoula
    Year 2020-21 2021-22
    Tuition and Fees $7,430 $7,432
    Room and Board $10,154 $11,054
    Books $1,100 $1,100
    Other Expenses $3,592 $3,450
    Total $22,276 $23,036
    Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated)
    $0-$30k $11,651 $12,049
    $30,001 - $48k $12,069 $12,481
    $48,001 - $75k $14,652 $15,152
    $75,001 - $110k $16,051 $16,599
    $110,001+ $18,360 $18,986
  • Montana State University-Northern

    Havre
    Year 2020-21 2021-22
    Tuition and Fees $5,955 $5,955
    Room and Board $6,470 $6,470
    Books $1,400 $1,400
    Other Expenses $3,200 $3,200
    Total $17,025 $17,025
    Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated)
    $0-$30k $9,749 $9,749
    $30,001 - $48k $10,798 $10,798
    $48,001 - $75k $12,505 $12,505
    $75,001 - $110k $15,313 $15,313
    $110,001+ $15,637 $15,637
  • The University of Montana-Western

    Dillon
    Year 2020-21 2021-22
    Tuition and Fees $5,747 $5,726
    Room and Board $8,280 $8,280
    Books $800 $924
    Other Expenses $3,600 $3,600
    Total $18,427 $18,530
    Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated)
    $0-$30k $9,294 $9,346
    $30,001 - $48k $11,645 $11,710
    $48,001 - $75k $13,351 $13,426
    $75,001 - $110k $16,514 $16,606
    $110,001+ $16,623 $16,716

Private MT Schools Cost Breakdown

  • Carroll College

    Helena
    Year 2020-21 2021-22
    Tuition and Fees $37,262 $38,106
    Room and Board $10,262 $10,416
    Books $1,200 $800
    Other Expenses $3,180 $3,168
    Total $51,904 $52,490
    Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated)
    $0-$30k $17,135 $17,328
    $30,001 - $48k $16,991 $17,183
    $48,001 - $75k $20,334 $20,564
    $75,001 - $110k $23,627 $23,894
    $110,001+ $26,734 $27,036
  • University of Great Falls

    Great Falls
    Year 2020-21 2021-22
    Tuition and Fees $26,662 $26,812
    Room and Board $9,746 $9,746
    Books $1,000 $1,000
    Other Expenses $4,000 $4,000
    Total $41,408 $41,558
    Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated)
    $0-$30k $21,090 $21,166
    $30,001 - $48k $23,398 $23,483
    $48,001 - $75k $22,530 $22,612
    $75,001 - $110k $25,101 $25,192
    $110,001+ $25,120 $25,211
  • Rocky Mountain College

    Billings
    Year 2020-21 2021-22
    Tuition and Fees $30,586 $31,335
    Room and Board $8,596 $8,855
    Books $1,300 $1,300
    Other Expenses $3,270 $3,270
    Total $43,752 $44,760
    Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated)
    $0-$30k $15,151 $15,500
    $30,001 - $48k $16,244 $16,618
    $48,001 - $75k $18,482 $18,908
    $75,001 - $110k $23,064 $23,595
    $110,001+ $24,396 $24,958
  • Salish Kootenai College

    Pablo
    Year 2020-21 2021-22
    Tuition and Fees $4,311 $4,311
    Room and Board $7,020 $7,020
    Books $1,500 $1,500
    Other Expenses $2,400 $2,400
    Total $17,319 $17,319
    Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated)
    $0-$30k $6,835 $6,835
    $30,001 - $48k $5,438 $5,438
    $48,001 - $75k $8,408 $8,408
    $75,001 - $110k $9,663 $9,663
    $110,001+ $7,997 $7,997
 

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