Career Training Path › Montana › Great Falls College Montana State University
Great Falls College Montana State University
Great Falls, Montana · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 2100 16th Ave S, Great Falls, MT 59405 · Phone: (406) 268-3700 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Great Falls College Montana State University is a public trade school in Great Falls, Montana, offering welding, dental hygiene, and surgical technologist programs, accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, this campus has a 34.1% completion rate, below the state average of 52.3%, and median earnings of $38,034 ten years after entry. Median graduate debt is not reported for this campus.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, can be used here, and 31.3% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $43,720 | $55,610 | $63,520 |
| Dental hygienists | $83,060 | $98,440 | $100,920 |
| Surgical technologists | $37,690 | $60,970 | $70,580 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $49,230 | $62,210 | $66,850 |
| Medical assistants | $38,670 | $46,820 | $48,960 |
| Dental assistants | $37,340 | $46,680 | $49,920 |
| Medical records specialists | $40,460 | $50,190 | $59,770 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $27,280 | $36,140 | $41,530 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Montana (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 31 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 22 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 19 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Great Falls College Montana State University is a public trade and career campus in Great Falls, Montana. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, applies here. The school holds accreditation through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, along with program-specific accreditors from the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation and the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Its most-completed trade programs are welding, with 62 completers, dental hygiene with 22, and surgical technologist training with 13, drawn from a total of 10 program families offered on campus.
Looking at outcomes, the campus reports a completion rate of 34.1%, which falls below the state average of 52.3%. Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry stand at $38,034. Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 31.3% of students receive Pell Grants, pointing to a substantial share of lower-income enrollees among the school's 894 undergraduates.
This campus, located in a small city setting, may suit students pursuing hands-on trade training such as welding or clinical fields like dental hygiene and surgical technology, though specific program lengths are not detailed here. Adults considering a career change should confirm program schedules and length directly with the school. To verify accreditation status and review the latest federal outcome data, check with the listed accreditors or consult the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
The campus offers 10 program families including welding, dental hygiene, surgical technology, LPN training, medical assisting, dental assisting, medical billing and coding, and EMT training. Its top programs by completions are welding (62), dental hygiene (22), and surgical technologist programs (13).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited. It holds accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, as well as programmatic accreditation from the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation and the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used here. About 31.3% of its students receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate at this campus is 34.1%, which is below the Montana state average of 52.3%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (406) 268-3700 or check the College Scorecard for updates.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are $38,034, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly at (406) 268-3700 or visit gfcmsu.edu for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public school, which typically means it is state-subsidized and often has lower published tuition rates than for-profit institutions, though specific cost figures for this campus are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in this listing's data. Contact the school directly to confirm program duration for welding, dental hygiene, or other offerings.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and the relevant programmatic accreditors, and review federal outcome data at the College Scorecard link: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?180249.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data does not directly address adult career-changer fit; program lengths and scheduling details are not reported here. Contact the school to ask about options suited to working adults or career changers.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not reported in this listing's data. Contact the school directly for information on any required credentials for fields like surgical technology or dental hygiene.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Great Falls College Montana State University at (406) 268-3700 or visit https://www.gfcmsu.edu/ for application information.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported in this listing's data. Check the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?180249 to compare outcomes across institutions.
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Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.