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Helena College University of Montana

Helena, Montana · Public community college

Aviation maintenance (A&P) schoolsWelding schoolsCNC & machining programsLPN / LVN programsDiesel mechanic schoolsAuto mechanic schools
33%completion rate · Montana avg 52%
$14,580median debt of graduates
$37,317median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$40,738median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (Accredited)
Address: 1115 N Roberts Street, Helena, MT 59601 · Phone: (406) 447-6900 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.
Completion rate vs. benchmarks
Helena College Univer… Helena College Univer…: 33.3% 33.3% Montana average Montana average: 52.3% 52.3% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians$47,100$64,170$82,240
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$43,720$55,610$63,520
Machinists$37,940$60,920$68,760
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses$49,230$62,210$66,850
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists$44,880$59,990$71,180
Automotive service technicians and mechanics$38,170$58,740$72,270

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

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 13 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 11 $32,024 $41,007 $12,825
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 11 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 10 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 9 not reported not reported not reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 1–2 years 8 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 7 $32,024 $41,007 $12,825
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 5 $34,608 $34,847 not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 4 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 3 $34,608 $34,847 not reported
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 2 $34,608 $34,847 not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 1 $32,024 $41,007 $12,825
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 1 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.

Visit the school's website ↗

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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.

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