Fort Peck Community College: $2,250 Tuition

$2,250Tuition

426Students

16%Grad Rate (6-yr)

$14,747Earnings

#22 in MontanaPublic2-yearData: 2023-24

About Fort Peck Community College

Fort Peck Community College serves 426 students on the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Reservation in northeastern Montana. This tribal college focuses on serving Native American students and preserving indigenous culture while providing career training and academic transfer programs. The campus sits in one of the most remote areas you'll find for a college, with wide open prairie stretching in every direction. About 86% of students are Native American, making this one of the few places where indigenous students form the clear majority. The college offers programs in fields like natural resources, business, and health sciences that connect directly to reservation and regional job opportunities.

Tuition costs $2,250 for everyone, whether you're from Montana or anywhere else. After financial aid, most students pay very little, with families earning $30,000 to $48,000 annually paying just $401 net price. The challenge comes after graduation. Median earnings sit at $14,747 ten years out, which reflects both the rural job market and the fact that many graduates transfer to four-year schools rather than entering the workforce immediately. Only 21% of students receive federal aid, suggesting many attend part-time while working.

Women make up 68% of the student body, and 89% of students come from Montana. The 17:1 student-faculty ratio means you'll get personal attention, but the 16% graduation rate shows that balancing school with work and family responsibilities proves difficult for many students here.

Academics & Faculty

Fort Peck Community College serves the Fort Peck Reservation and focuses heavily on Native American studies and cultural preservation programs. The 17:1 student-faculty ratio means small classes where instructors know every student by name, but the 15.90% graduation rate reflects the real challenges many students face balancing education with family and work responsibilities on the reservation. The college offers associate degrees in fields like business, education, and natural resources management, with many courses designed around traditional ecological knowledge. Students here often study part-time while working or caring for family, and the college adapts its academic calendar to accommodate powwows and other cultural events that are central to community life.

Source: College Scorecard / U.S. Department of Education

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Full-Time Faculty: 54.3%
Graduation Rate (6-year): 15.9%
Median Earnings (10 years): $14,747
Carnegie Classification: Tribal College

Campus Life

Fort Peck Community College sits in Poplar, Montana, about 220 miles from Billings and 40 miles from North Dakota. With 426 students spread across a small campus, you'll know most of your classmates by name within weeks. The student body is 68% women and heavily draws from local Native American communities, reflecting its location on the Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Reservation. Winter temperatures regularly drop below zero, so you'll need serious cold-weather gear from November through March.

The rural setting means campus life revolves around the main academic building and student center. Most students commute from nearby towns since there's limited on-campus housing. Weekends often involve trips to nearby Fort Peck Lake for fishing or camping when weather permits. The nearest movie theater or shopping mall requires a drive to Wolf Point (30 miles) or Williston, North Dakota (50 miles). Students build close relationships with faculty given the 17:1 ratio, and study groups often form naturally in the small class sizes typical of community colleges this size.

Setting: Rural-Remote
Calendar System: Semester
Founded: 1978

Campus Safety (2023)

No reported Clery Act crimes in 2023.

Climate & Weather

January Avg: 1°–24°F
July Avg: 53°–85°F
Annual Precipitation: 39.1"
Annual Snowfall: 19.1"

Student Demographics

Fort Peck Community College serves the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes reservation with 426 students who are overwhelmingly from Montana. About 9 in 10 students stay close to home for their education, reflecting the college's role as the primary higher education option for this remote corner of northeastern Montana. Women make up about two-thirds of enrollment, which is typical for tribal colleges where nursing, education, and social services programs tend to draw more female students. The student body is primarily Native American, though exact tribal enrollment figures aren't provided in the standard federal data.

Men: 32.2%
Women: 67.8%
White: 13.9%
Black: 0.7%
Hispanic: 0.7%
Asian: 0.7%
In-State Students: 89.5%
Pell Grant Recipients: 20.8%

Location

Fort Peck Community College sits in Poplar, Montana, a small town about 270 miles northeast of Billings, the state's largest city. The campus serves the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in northeastern Montana, where rolling prairie stretches to the horizon and the nearest neighbor might be miles away. This is true rural America, where students know their classmates and professors personally. The school draws 89.47% of its students from Montana, mostly from the surrounding tribal communities and small farming towns. Winter temperatures regularly drop below zero, and the closest shopping mall is hours away. Students considering colleges in Montana may also compare Fort Peck Community College with similar schools in the region.

Address: Poplar, Montana 59255-0398

After College

Source: College Scorecard / U.S. Department of Education

Median Earnings (10 years): $14,747
Mean Earnings (6 years after entry): $20,100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Fort Peck Community College?

Fort Peck Community College operates with an open enrollment policy typical of community colleges, meaning students who meet basic requirements are admitted. The college serves 426 students primarily from the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and surrounding rural Montana communities. With 89.47% of students coming from in-state, the institution focuses on providing accessible higher education to local residents.

How much does Fort Peck Community College cost after financial aid?

Students pay an average net price of $2,449 annually, making Fort Peck one of the most affordable colleges in the country. For families earning $30,000-$48,000, the net cost drops to just $401 per year. The low tuition of $2,250 for both in-state and out-of-state students reflects the college's mission to serve economically disadvantaged rural communities.

What academic programs is Fort Peck Community College known for?

The college emphasizes culturally responsive education that honors Assiniboine and Gros Ventre tribal traditions while providing practical career training. With a 17:1 student-faculty ratio, students receive personalized attention in programs designed to meet local workforce needs. The institution particularly focuses on preparing students for careers that benefit tribal communities and the surrounding agricultural region.

What are the job prospects for Fort Peck Community College graduates?

Graduates earn a median salary of $14,747 ten years after enrollment, reflecting the rural Montana job market and the college's role as a stepping stone for further education. The 15.90% six-year graduation rate is influenced by the college's student population, which includes many first-generation college students and working adults. Many graduates transfer to four-year institutions or enter local careers in tribal government, education, and natural resources.

What is campus life like at Fort Peck Community College?

The campus serves a predominantly female student body, with women making up 67.84% of enrollment. Located in the remote town of Poplar on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, the college provides an intimate learning environment where Native American students comprise the vast majority. The rural setting means students often commute from surrounding reservation communities rather than living on campus.

Does Fort Peck Community College serve tribal students specifically?

The college operates as a tribal college, founded in 1978 to serve the Assiniboine and Gros Ventre tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. With only 13.85% of students identifying as white, the institution maintains its identity as a place where Native American students can pursue higher education while staying connected to their cultural heritage. The college integrates traditional knowledge with contemporary academic programs to prepare students for success in both tribal and mainstream societies.