Best Colleges in Montana 2023
Here are the best colleges and universities in Montana. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you.
Best Colleges in Montana
- University of Montana 18 to 1
- Montana State University 17 to 1
- Carroll College 11 to 1
- Rocky Mountain College 11 to 1
- University of Providence 8 to 1
- Carroll College $38,106
- Rocky Mountain College $31,335
- University of Providence $26,812
- Montana State University $5,654
- University of Montana $5,352
- Rocky Mountain College $30,258
- University of Providence $24,327
- Carroll College $18,435
- Montana State University $5,089
- University of Montana $4,932
- University of Providence 8 to 1
- Carroll College 11 to 1
- Rocky Mountain College 11 to 1
- Montana State University 17 to 1
- University of Montana 18 to 1
- University of Montana $5,352
- Montana State University $5,654
- University of Providence $26,812
- Rocky Mountain College $31,335
- Carroll College $38,106
- University of Montana $4,932
- Montana State University $5,089
- Carroll College $18,435
- University of Providence $24,327
- Rocky Mountain College $30,258
Colleges and Universities in Montana
Montana has 21 higher learning institutions, including 16 public universities and colleges. The largest is Montana State University (MSU) in Bozeman. With an affordable tuition of $7,000, MSU enrolls just over 16,000 students. Students can earn their degree in fields like forestry, wildlife biology, theatre, and creative writing. The state is also home to five private schools, three of which are religiously affiliated.
Find college admissions consultants in your state.
Carroll College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college with just over 1,000 students in attendance. The tuition runs about $35,000, the most expensive in the state, and it is located on a hilltop in Helena. Students can choose from 18 schools in Montana with tuitions of $7,000 or less, making Montana an affordable state to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree. The state also offers loan repayment programs, including the Montana NHSC Student Loan Repayment Program, which grants up to $15,000 per year for two years for those in health-related fields.
Hiking through Glacier National Park, exploring the Northern Great Plains, and fishing from one of its many lakes and rivers are just some of the ways to enjoy the natural bounty that Montana has to offer. Visitors and locals can also drive Going-to-the-Sun-Road, a 52-mile highway that ventures through the National Park and crosses into Canada. No matter the outdoor hobby, prospective students are sure to love the scenic backdrop of The Treasure State as they earn their degree.
Check out the best programs Montana has to offer while enjoying the wide-open spaces of Big Sky Country.
What are Montana’s Colleges & Universities?
- 2 Research Universities
- 7 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 3 Graduate Schools
- 6 Public Colleges & Universities
- 3 Private Colleges & Universities
- 3 Christian Colleges & Universities
- 7 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 6 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
- 2 Community Colleges
- 7 Online Colleges
Montana’s Best Overall
Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges
We’ve identified 9 colleges and universities in Montana that meet our criteria. This list of the top colleges in Montana below focuses on schools that offer bachelor’s degrees. The ranking features fully accredited public and private colleges and universities in Montana.
Best Colleges in Montana 2022
- #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2023 #1 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2023 #1 Best Research Universities in Montana 2023 #1 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2023
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
48%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1145/23
What is University of Montana known for?
University of Montana’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
University of Montana’s Online Degrees
BA in Art
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Media Arts
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Anthropology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Communicative Sciences And Disorders
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2023 #2 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2023 #2 Best Research Universities in Montana 2023 #2 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2023
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
73%
Graduation
55%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1205/24
What is Montana State University known for?
Montana State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Montana State University’s Online Degrees
BA in Liberal Studies
Degree Concentrations
- Quaternity
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2023 #1 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2023 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2023 #3 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2023
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
33%
Graduation
42%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1005/18
What is University of Montana Western known for?
University of Montana Western’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
University of Montana Western’s Online Degrees
BS in Early Childhood Education
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Christian Colleges in Montana 2023 #1 Best Private Colleges in Montana 2023 #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2023 #2 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2023
Tuition + fees
$31K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
52%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1028/21
What is Rocky Mountain College known for?
Rocky Mountain College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- History
- Medical
- Sociology
- Education
- Psychology
- Earth Sciences
- Mathematics
- Literature
- Physics
- Political Science
Most Influential Alumni
- #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2023 #3 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2023 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2023 #4 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2023
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
28%
Student body
3K
What is Montana State University Billings known for?
Montana State University Billings’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Montana State University Billings’s Online Degrees
BSBA in Business Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Accounting
- General Business
- Management
- Marketing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Communication
Degree Concentrations
- Organization
- Media Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BSLS in Liberal Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Public Relations
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BSHA in Health Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Christian Colleges in Montana 2023 #2 Best Private Colleges in Montana 2023 #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2023 #4 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2023
Tuition + fees
$38K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
67%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1190/24
What is Carroll College known for?
Carroll College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
- #3 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2023 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2023 #5 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2023 #5 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
90%
Graduation
57%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1202/24
What is Montana Technological University known for?
Montana Technological University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Montana Technological University’s Online Degrees
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #10 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2023 #3 Best Christian Colleges in Montana 2023 #3 Best Private Colleges in Montana 2023 #5 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023
Tuition + fees
$27K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
39%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
920/19
What is University of Providence known for?
University of Providence’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
University of Providence’s Online Degrees
BS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Healthcare Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BSN in Nursing: RN To BSN
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2023 #6 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2023 #7 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2023 #7 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2023
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
31%
Student body
<1K
What is Montana State University–Northern known for?
Montana State University–Northern’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Montana State University–Northern’s Online Degrees
BS in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BAS in Business Technology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BAS in Trades Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Community Leadership
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Montana’s Best Colleges in Your Area of Interest
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
