Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you. If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whehter you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find, well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2023

By James Barham

Published: Apr 19, 2021
Updated: Mar 13, 2023

Liberal arts colleges are a great option for students seeking a well-rounded education in an intimate campus setting. The best liberal arts colleges in Montana offer a diverse selection of degree programs with opportunities for a highly individualized educational experience.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana

Rocky Mountain College

23%

Montana State University Billings

22%

Carroll College

19%

University of Montana Western

18%

University of Providence

17%

Montana Technological University

16%

Montana State University–Northern

13%

University of Providence

100%

Montana Technological University

90%

Carroll College

84%

Rocky Mountain College

81%

University of Montana Western

33%

Montana State University Billings

15 to 1

University of Montana Western

14 to 1

Montana State University–Northern

14 to 1

Montana Technological University

13 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 Technological University

$5,707

University of Montana Western

$4,523

Montana State University–Northern

$4,496

Montana State University Billings

$4,485

Rocky Mountain College

$30,258

University of Providence

$24,327

Carroll College

$18,435

Montana State University Billings

$5,878

Montana State University–Northern

$5,742

Montana Technological University

$4,706

Montana State University–Northern

13%

Montana Technological University

16%

University of Providence

17%

University of Montana Western

18%

Carroll College

19%

Montana State University Billings

22%

Rocky Mountain College

23%

University of Montana Western

33%

Rocky Mountain College

81%

Carroll College

84%

Montana Technological University

90%

University of Providence

100%

University of Providence

8 to 1

Carroll College

11 to 1

Rocky Mountain College

11 to 1

Montana Technological University

13 to 1

University of Montana Western

14 to 1

Montana State University–Northern

14 to 1

Montana State University Billings

15 to 1

Montana State University Billings

$4,485

Montana State University–Northern

$4,496

University of Montana Western

$4,523

Montana Technological University

$5,707

University of Providence

$26,812

Rocky Mountain College

$31,335

Carroll College

$38,106

Montana Technological University

$4,706

Montana State University–Northern

$5,742

Montana State University Billings

$5,878

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?

Montana’s Best Overall

How do we determine Montana's best liberal arts colleges ?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

A liberal arts college is a school that puts a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. We’ve identified 7 liberal arts colleges in Montana. To be ranked among the 30 best liberal arts colleges in Montana, schools must fully accredited institutions.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2022

#1
University of Montana Western
Dillon , MT
#1 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2023 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2023 #3 Best Colleges in Montana 2023 #3 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2023
Other Rankings
- #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 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:

Education
History
Mathematics
Biology
Literature
Sociology
Business
Psychology

Most Influential Alumni

Amanda Curtis
Angela McLean
Jeff Choate
Mildred W. Pelzer
J. D. Lynch
Carol Williams
Dan Harrington
William Menahan
Jordan H Mantha
University of Montana Western’s Online Degrees
BS in Early Childhood Education

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#2
Rocky Mountain College
Billings , MT
#1 Best Christian Colleges in Montana 2023 #1 Best Private Colleges in Montana 2023 #2 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2023 #4 Best 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

J. Timothy Hunt
Valeen Tippetts Avery
Felecia Rotellini
Arlo Guthrie
Chris Horn
Michal Wisniowski
Lane Chandler
Theresa Rose Bajt
Jason Earles
D.Y. Begay
Kathlyn Williams
Bill Bowers
Compare school
#3
Montana State University Billings
Billings , MT
#3 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2023 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2023 #4 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2023 #5 Best 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:

Psychology
History
Sociology
Education
Chemistry
Computer Science
Business
Medical
Political Science
Biology

Most Influential Alumni

Allan J. McDonald
Charles E. Erdmann
Kevin Red Star
Dustin Lind
Brooke Gondara
Susan P. Watters
Denny Rehberg
Darrell Kipp
Bently Spang
Roy McPipe
James F. Battin
Marjorie Bear Don't Walk
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
Compare school
#4
Carroll College
Helena , MT
#2 Best Christian Colleges in Montana 2023 #2 Best Private Colleges in Montana 2023 #4 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2023 #4 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023
Other Rankings
- #6 Best 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:

Physics
Chemistry
Computer Science
Engineering
Nursing
Sociology
Biology
Communications
Philosophy
History

Most Influential Alumni

Norman Holter
Raymond Hunthausen
Tarah Wheeler
George Leo Thomas
Bobby Petrino
Marc Racicot
John Gagliardi
Bernard Joseph Topel
Jim Hammond
Sinan Güler
Paul Petrino
Casey FitzSimmons
Compare school
#5
Montana Technological University
Butte , MT
#3 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2023 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2023 #5 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2023 #5 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2023
Other Rankings
- #7 Best Colleges in Montana 2023
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:

Engineering
Earth Sciences
Nursing
Chemistry
Business
Computer Science
Biology
Mathematics
Medical

Most Influential Alumni

Christina Hulbe
Amanda Curtis
Craig Kupp
Joseph Cavanaugh
Arnold Olsen
Brad Huse
Ryan Lance
Jim Deming
David Northrup
Dan Villa
Jack Gentry
John Patton
Montana Technological University’s Online Degrees
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#6
University of Providence
Great Falls , MT
#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
Other Rankings
- #6 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2023
- #8 Best Colleges in Montana 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:

Psychology
Criminal Justice
Nursing
Mathematics
Computer Science
Sociology
Medical
Education
History
Biology

Most Influential Alumni

Jon Tester
Paul G. Hatfield
Jerry D. Roe
Marge Chadderdon
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
Compare school
#7
Montana State University–Northern
Havre , MT
#6 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2023 #6 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2023 #7 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2023 #9 Best 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:

Education
Medical
Biology

Most Influential Alumni

Garrison Courtney
R. Dennis Cook
Lawrence Romo
Jesse Juarez
Michael Claxton
J. D. Lynch
Kingsley Ogwudire
Jacob Bachmeier
Douglas Cordier
Peggy Gibson
Jonathan Windy Boy
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
Compare school

Build your own college rankings

Montana’s Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Your Area of Interest

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you. If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).
Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whehter you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.
Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.
The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

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.

Check out our directory of liberal arts colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top liberal arts schools in every state.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2023

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana

Colleges and Universities in Montana

What are Montana’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2022

Most Influential Alumni

University of Montana Western’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Montana State University Billings’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Montana Technological University’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

University of Providence’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Montana State University–Northern’s Online Degrees

Montana’s Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Your Area of Interest