Best Colleges in Montana

The higher education experts at BestColleges have reviewed the top 4-year colleges in Montana. Start planning your future at BestColleges.
Staff Writers
By
Updated October 15, 2024
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The Montana Department of Labor and Industry projects only minimal economic growth in the coming years, with the state expected to add just 3,800 jobs annually from 2017 to 2027. The healthcare industry will account for much of this growth, adding approximately 1,300 new positions each year. Industries like mining and utilities, by contrast, should see an overall decline in employment during that period.

A college education, however, can give you an edge in a competitive job market, especially when applying for the most lucrative positions. For example, in 2017 registered nurses in Montana earned a median salary of $66,280, nearly $24,000 more than the median pay for all other occupations. Computer systems analysts in the state made even more, with a median salary of $73,760 that year.

To help you decide where to continue your education, we have compiled a ranking of the best colleges in Montana. For each of the ten schools on this list, we provide information on things like admission requirements, courses of study, the availability of online and hybrid programs, and financial aid opportunities.

All of the colleges below hold regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

In this Article
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Best Accredited Colleges in Montana

#1

The University of Montana-Western

Dillon, MT4 yearCampus + Online

$4,523

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$16,391

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

37%

Acceptance Rate

29%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

71%

Students Enrolled

1,424

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,523

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,391

The University of Montana-Western

Dillon, MT4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,523

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,391

Acceptance Rate

37%

Online Enrollment

29%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

71%

Students Enrolled

1,424

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#2

Carroll College

Helena, MT4 yearCampus + Online

$37,828

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$37,828

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

78%

Acceptance Rate

8%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,302

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,302

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

1,168

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$37,828

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$37,828

Carroll College

Helena, MT4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$37,828

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$37,828

Acceptance Rate

78%

Online Enrollment

8%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,302

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,302

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

1,168

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#3

Montana State University

Bozeman, MT4 yearCampus + Online

$5,824

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$27,391

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

87%

Acceptance Rate

20%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,241

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,469

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

16,978

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,824

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,391

Montana State University

Bozeman, MT4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,824

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,391

Acceptance Rate

87%

Online Enrollment

20%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,241

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,469

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

16,978

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#4

Salish Kootenai College

Pablo, MT4 yearCampus

$5,076

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,260

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Acceptance Rate

55%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$4,941

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$8,883

Retention Rate

50%

Students Enrolled

619

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,076

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,260

Salish Kootenai College

Pablo, MT4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,076

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,260

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

55%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$4,941

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$8,883

Retention Rate

50%

Students Enrolled

619

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#5

Rocky Mountain College

Billings, MT2 yearCampus + Online

$31,342

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$31,342

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

73%

Acceptance Rate

37%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$30,736

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,736

Retention Rate

64%

Students Enrolled

991

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$31,342

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$31,342

Rocky Mountain College

Billings, MT2 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$31,342

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$31,342

Acceptance Rate

73%

Online Enrollment

37%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$30,736

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,736

Retention Rate

64%

Students Enrolled

991

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#6

University of Providence

Great Falls, MT2 yearCampus + Online

$27,256

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$27,256

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

64%

Acceptance Rate

100%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$24,237

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,237

Retention Rate

67%

Students Enrolled

677

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$27,256

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,256

University of Providence

Great Falls, MT2 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$27,256

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,256

Acceptance Rate

64%

Online Enrollment

100%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$24,237

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,237

Retention Rate

67%

Students Enrolled

677

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#7

Montana Technological University

Butte, MT4 yearCampus + Online

$7,580

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$23,210

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

89%

Acceptance Rate

32%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$4,848

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,576

Retention Rate

72%

Students Enrolled

1,602

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,580

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,210

Montana Technological University

Butte, MT4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,580

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,210

Acceptance Rate

89%

Online Enrollment

32%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$4,848

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,576

Retention Rate

72%

Students Enrolled

1,602

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#8

The University of Montana

Missoula, MT4 yearCampus + Online

$5,515

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$27,168

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

95%

Acceptance Rate

41%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,166

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,986

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

9,955

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,515

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,168

The University of Montana

Missoula, MT4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,515

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,168

Acceptance Rate

95%

Online Enrollment

41%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,166

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,986

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

9,955

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#9

Montana State University-Northern

Havre, MT4 yearCampus + Online

$4,496

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$17,096

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

100%

Acceptance Rate

60%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,742

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,686

Retention Rate

68%

Students Enrolled

1,140

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,496

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,096

Montana State University-Northern

Havre, MT4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,496

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,096

Acceptance Rate

100%

Online Enrollment

60%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,742

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,686

Retention Rate

68%

Students Enrolled

1,140

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#10

Montana State University Billings

Billings, MT2 yearCampus + Online

$4,620

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$18,209

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

100%

Acceptance Rate

63%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,172

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,519

Retention Rate

60%

Students Enrolled

4,092

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,620

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,209

Montana State University Billings

Billings, MT2 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,620

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,209

Acceptance Rate

100%

Online Enrollment

63%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,172

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,519

Retention Rate

60%

Students Enrolled

4,092

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Best Community Colleges in Montana

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