Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Montana Technological University #430 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $79,369, placing Montana Technological University in the 86.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Montana Technological University sits in the 97.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Montana Technological University #103 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Students at Montana Technological University earn about $23,318 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a result that reflects the university's concentration in engineering and applied technical fields that connect directly to high-demand industries in energy, mining, and infrastructure. The institution's return on investment ranking places it among the strongest performers in the Azimuth coverage set, driven by a program mix that channels graduates into careers with durable, above-average earnings relative to what similar students achieve elsewhere.
Azimuth ranks Montana Technological University #430 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Butte, MT, Montana Technological University enrolls roughly 1,480 undergraduates. Retention and graduation metrics reflect a focused student body that completes at rates consistent with the institution's technical program emphasis. The composite is anchored in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Montana Technological University #103 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $79,369, and earn about $23,318 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Montana Technological University in the 97.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. That performance reflects the university's concentration in Engineering and related technical fields, which align closely with high-demand industries in Montana and the broader Mountain West labor market. Access and affordability provide important context for the composite. Montana Technological University sits in the 7.2 percentile for access and the 79.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 23.8% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 33.7% identifying as first-generation students. The mobility pillar — in the 28.6 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflects how consistently the university converts enrollment into durable earnings gains for graduates across income backgrounds.
Montana Technological University's published cost of attendance is $22,786. Net price by income band reflects the university's public funding structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $11,914, middle-income families pay around $15,187, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,595. Azimuth ranks Montana Technological University #300 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Montana Tech's engineering focus shapes both the cost structure and the debt-to-earnings dynamic. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $79,369, median federal debt of $18,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $212 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings would be approximately $61,843, which shifts the real affordability picture — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Montana Technological University is a strong fit for students drawn to engineering, applied sciences, and technical fields who want a focused public university experience in MT with a clear path to strong post-graduation earnings. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $79,369, placing Montana Technological University in the 86.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $23,318 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Montana Technological University in the 97.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. 23.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 33.7% are first-generation students, reflecting a student body that skews toward cost-conscious families — a group that benefits from the institution's combination of moderate net prices and strong earnings outcomes relative to debt carried at graduation. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Montana Technological University's program mix is concentrated in Engineering and related technical disciplines, so students whose interests fall outside those fields will find fewer options here than at a broader regional university. The Butte, MT campus also reflects a smaller-city environment that suits students who prefer a tightly focused academic community over a large urban research setting.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Montana Technological University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Montana Technological University's published cost of attendance is $22,786. Net price by income band reflects the university's public funding structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $11,914, middle-income families pay around $15,187, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,595.
Azimuth ranks Montana Technological University #300 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Montana Tech's engineering focus shapes both the cost structure and the debt-to-earnings dynamic. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $79,369, median federal debt of $18,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $212 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings would be approximately $61,843, which shifts the real affordability picture — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Montana Technological University earn median 4-year earnings of $79,369, placing Montana Technological University in the 86.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $23,318 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Montana Technological University in the 97.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Montana Technological University #103 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That performance reflects the institution's concentration in Engineering and related applied technical fields, where graduates move directly into high-demand roles in mining, energy, and infrastructure sectors anchored in MT and the broader Mountain West labor market.
The program lineup at Montana Technological University is anchored by Mechanical Engineering, which combines strong cohort scale with competitive early-career pay and represents the clearest economic engine in the institution's degree portfolio. The Mechanical Engineering program graduates 42 students with median earnings of $82,443 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #210 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) — a benchmark ratio of 0.9x the national CIP-4 peer figure.
Nursing follows with 42 graduates earning $81,504 at the four-year mark, and Azimuth ranks it #258 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, at 0.9x its national benchmark. Management Information Systems and Services rounds out the top quartile with 31 graduates earning $58,332 and a national rank of #61 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The Engineering family accounts for 47% of degrees, with Business at 14% and other STEM fields at 35% — a concentration that helps explain why institution-level median earnings run well above the $52,536 median at comparable institutions.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Pittsburgh-Bradford Similar quality tier (#15129 ranked) | PA | 89% | $66,125 | #15129 | Compare |
University Of West Alabama Similar quality tier (#15134 ranked) | AL | 43% | $44,232 | #15134 | Compare |
College Of Micronesia-Fsm Similar quality tier (#14582 ranked) | FM | 87% | $24,651 | #14582 | Compare |
Citadel Military College Of South Carolina Similar quality tier (#14581 ranked) | SC | 23% | $72,085 | #14581 | Compare |
Indiana University-Northwest Similar quality tier (#15151 ranked) | IN | 73% | $43,361 | #15151 | Compare |
Petroleum Engineering
20 graduates
Geological/Geophysical Engineering
8 graduates
Public Health
20 graduates
Mining and Mineral Engineering
10 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
42 graduates
Montana Technological University's program mix is anchored in engineering and applied sciences — a signature shaped by the university's technical identity as a specialized STEM institution in Butte, Montana. Engineering accounts for 47% of graduates, followed by Business at 14% and other STEM fields at 35%, reflecting a portfolio built around fields with direct workforce demand in energy, mining, and industrial sectors.
Across 15 programs serving roughly 257 students annually, 5 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. The program with the strongest combination of enrollment scale and earnings is Mechanical Engineering, which anchors the institution's economic output.
Among the most popular programs, Mechanical Engineering program graduates 42 students with median earnings of $82,443 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks the program #210 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Nursing and Management Information Systems and Services follow in enrollment scale, with graduates earning $81,504 and $58,332, respectively — Azimuth ranks Nursing #258 and Management Information Systems and Services #61 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The highest-earning programs at Montana Technological University are concentrated in engineering subfields where graduates enter the workforce directly into high-demand technical roles. Petroleum Engineering leads with median earnings of $106,076 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks the program #9 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Public Health and Mechanical Engineering also deliver strong early-career pay, with graduates earning $86,855 and $82,443, respectively — Azimuth ranks Public Health #5 and Mechanical Engineering #210 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These are high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways aligned with sectors — energy extraction, mining engineering, and industrial systems — where national labor-market demand remains durable, as the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework illustrates.
