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Is Salish Kootenai College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Salish Kootenai, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Salish Kootenai sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $32,725 helps, but median debt of $12,923 plus yearly net price of $7,945 creates a tighter path. For context, Salish Kootenai's net price is about 27% below the typical 4-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$9,551
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $3,604 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $14,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$7,945
Median earnings 10 years out
$32,725
Median debt at graduation
$12,923
Graduation rate
32%
At Salish Kootenai, a typical graduate carries about $12,923 in student debt and earns roughly $32,725 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $147 per month, or 5% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Salish Kootenai is a two year school in Pablo, MT. For many families, the real question is not just sticker price but what this path unlocks next, whether that is direct employment, transfer, or a lower cost route into a four year degree.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
2-year
Flathead Valley Community
Kalispell, MT
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $8,099
2-year
Dawson Community
Glendive, MT
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $9,931
2-year
Miles Community
Miles City, MT
Worth-It Score: 67/100
Median net price: $10,405
2-year
Helena College University of Montana
Helena, MT
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $11,593
2-year
Frank Phillips
Borger, TX
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $7,953
Common questions about Salish Kootenai
The median net price at Salish Kootenai is $7,945 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Montana? See the most affordable public universities in Montana →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →