Best Colleges in Montana 2026
Here are the best colleges and universities in Montana. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you.
Key Takeaways
- Montana’s top institutions emphasize research in areas like agriculture, engineering, and environmental science. The university is a Carnegie-classified research institution, providing students with hands-on learning opportunities and access to cutting-edge technology.
- Many Montana colleges are known for their small class sizes and personalized attention from faculty. This fosters a supportive learning environment where students can thrive both academically and socially.
- Many of the best colleges in Montana are located near some of the nation’s most stunning natural landscapes, including Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. Students have abundant opportunities for hiking, skiing, and other outdoor activities, which greatly enhance the overall college experience.
Best Colleges in Montana in 2026
Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges
We evaluated accredited Montana institutions that grant bachelor’s degrees and identified 9 colleges and universities in Montana that meet our criteria. This overview highlights schools that combine undergraduate program breadth, curricular rigor, and regional relevance rather than sheer size or selectivity, so you can quickly compare options that are meaningful for bachelor’s-seeking students.
Use this list as a starting point: consider program fit, campus setting, cost, and post-graduate pathways when narrowing choices. Where appropriate, look beyond overall rank to individual department strengths and experiential opportunities—these factors typically matter most for undergraduate outcomes in Montana’s diverse higher-education landscape.
Best Colleges in Montana
- #1 Best Research Universities in Montana 2026 #1 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2026 #1 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2026 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
96%
Graduation
49%
Student body
13K
Career Outlook for degree at University of Montana
Cost of Degree: $8,152Expenses: $17,076Starting Salary: $48,823Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Montana known for?
University of Montana’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Earth Sciences
- Chemistry
- Philosophy
- Biology
- Literature
- History
- Education
- Communications
- Law
- Political Science
Most Influential Alumni
University of Montana’s Online Degrees
BA in Art
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Media Arts
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Anthropology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Communicative Sciences And Disorders
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Social Work 2 + 2 Program
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
- #2 Best Research Universities in Montana 2026 #2 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2026 #2 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2026 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
59%
Student body
19K
Median SAT/ACT
1175/24
Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University
Cost of Degree: $8,083Expenses: $18,588Starting Salary: $59,536Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat 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
- Format: Fully online
- #1 Best Private Colleges in Montana 2026 #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2026 #1 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2026 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$37K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
45%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1013/21
Career Outlook for degree at Rocky Mountain College
Cost of Degree: $33,252Expenses: $15,046Starting Salary: $54,124Cost Recoup Time: 15 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Rocky Mountain College known for?
Rocky Mountain College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- History
- Medical
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Education
- Mathematics
- Earth Sciences
- Physics
- Political Science
Most Influential Alumni
- #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2026 #2 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2026 #3 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2026 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
31%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University Billings
Cost of Degree: $6,706Expenses: $16,990Starting Salary: $48,199Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Montana State University Billings known for?
Montana State University Billings’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Psychology
- History
- Education
- Sociology
- Computer Science
- Literature
- Medical
- Political Science
- Business
- Communications
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: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Communication
Degree Concentrations
- Organization
- Media Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BSLS in Liberal Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Public Relations
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BSHA in Health Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BAS in Applied Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
- #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2026 #3 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2026 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2026 #4 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
46%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at University of Montana Western
Cost of Degree: $6,431Expenses: $15,282Starting Salary: $47,501Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat 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: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
- #3 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2026 #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2026 #4 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2026 #5 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
61%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1150/22
Career Outlook for degree at Montana Technological University
Cost of Degree: $7,993Expenses: $16,838Starting Salary: $59,491Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat 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
- Format: Fully online
- #2 Best Private Colleges in Montana 2026 #2 Best Christian Colleges in Montana 2026 #4 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2026 #5 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$43K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
68%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1175/24
Career Outlook for degree at Carroll College
Cost of Degree: $40,352Expenses: $15,692Starting Salary: $66,371Cost Recoup Time: 14 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Carroll College known for?
Carroll College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Nursing
- Literature
- Religious Studies
- Sociology
- Medical
- Philosophy
Most Influential Alumni
- #3 Best Private Colleges in Montana 2026 #3 Best Christian Colleges in Montana 2026 #5 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2026 #6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$31K
Acceptance
50%
Graduation
28%
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for degree at University of Providence
Cost of Degree: $29,018Expenses: $15,500Starting Salary: $51,419Cost Recoup Time: 15 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Providence known for?
University of Providence’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Psychology
- Criminal Justice
- Mathematics
- Nursing
- Business
- Computer Science
- Education
- Medical
- Religious Studies
- History
Most Influential Alumni
University of Providence’s Online Degrees
BS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Healthcare Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BSN in Nursing: RN To BSN
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
- #6 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2026 #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2026 #7 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2026 #7 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
39%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University–Northern
Cost of Degree: $5,955Expenses: $11,626Starting Salary: $52,907Cost Recoup Time: 8 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat 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: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BAS in Business Technology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BAS in Trades Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Community Leadership
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
Montana’s Best Colleges in Your Area of Interest
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 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.
