Montana Technological University
Montana Technological University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Montana Technological University at a Glance
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 desig…
1900
126 years old
$102M
$101.6 million (2025)
2,516
2,310 undergrad · 206 grad
137 acres
Identity
Is Montana Technological University Worth It?
Montana Technological University offers moderate value at $16,481/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $54,329, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 58% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With a 91% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
How Montana Technological University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #18 of 73 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Indiana University-Kokomo | 100 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| #2 | Bellingham Technical College | 92 | $5,997 | $49,748 |
| #3 | Bates Technical College | 86 | $6,292 | $50,051 |
| #4 | University of Illinois Springfield | 83 | $9,833 | $57,103 |
| #5 | Renton Technical College | 76 | $8,296 | $49,782 |
| #6 | Grays Harbor College | 75 | $4,783 | $40,865 |
| #18 | Montana Technological University | 48 | $16,481 | $54,329 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Montana Technological University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in MT.
Best Programs at Montana Technological University
The highest-earning program at Montana Technological University is Petroleum Engineering at $73,200/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Engineering, General at $55,900/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Petroleum Engineering graduate from Montana Technological University earns $73,200, while a Engineering, General graduate earns $55,900. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Petroleum Engineering graduates carry $25,000 in median debt vs. $22,954 for Engineering, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $16,481/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Engineering | $73,200 | $73,200 | $25,000 |
| Public Health | $63,900 | $63,900 | $30,675 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $60,100 | $60,100 | $20,189 |
| Engineering, General | $55,900 | $55,900 | $22,954 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Butte, MT
- Student Body
- 1,480 students
- Admission Rate
- 91%
- Graduation Rate
- 58%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $16,481
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $54,329
- Median Student Debt
- $18,750