College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Montana Technological University

Butte, MT 1,428 Undergrads 60.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$21,620
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,240
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,329
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,240
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$54,329
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate60.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
89.9%
SAT Avg
1,126
SAT Reading
25th: 52060075th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 54059075th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 182475th: 25

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$472k
+$76k
-$12k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$414k
+$17k
-$71k
Full Cost$22k/yr
+$394k
-$2k
-$90k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-121%
Full Cost$22k/yr
Never
-116%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-104%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-73%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology
CertCIP: 4701
Median Debt
$2,750
Earnings (5yr)
$88,641
Lifetime Value Added
+$445k

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,529
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,606
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,829
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,829
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k

Bachelor's Degrees

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$96,720
Lifetime Value Added
+$261k
Engineering, General
BachCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,108
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$28,125
Earnings (5yr)
$56,418
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Mining and Mineral Engineering
BachCIP: 1421
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,653
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Petroleum Engineering
BachCIP: 1425
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$116,301
Lifetime Value Added
+$407k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$99,011
Lifetime Value Added
+$278k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$26,036
Earnings (5yr)
$65,549
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k

Master's Degrees

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
MastCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,733
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$21,023
Earnings (5yr)
$119,118
Lifetime Value Added
+$573k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.