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 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 degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction 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. Whether 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 of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords 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 asynchronous, 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 2026

Q: 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 and make walks across campus more fun. 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.

Badge for BEST IN MONTANA LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES

By Dr. James Barham

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

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 in 2026

Rocky Mountain College
+1
Montana State University Billings
+1
University of Montana Western
–2
Montana Technological University
+1
Carroll College
–1
University of Providence
Montana State University–Northern

Table of Contents

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 2023

Last Year’s Ranking:
1. University of Montana Western
2. Rocky Mountain College
3. Montana State University Billings
4. Carroll College
5. Montana Technological University
6. University of Providence
7. Montana State University–Northern
#1
Rocky Mountain College
Billings , MT
#1 Best Private Colleges in Montana 2026 #1 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2025 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Montana 2025 #3 Best Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$32K
Acceptance
75%
Graduation
46%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1100/21
Career Outlook for degree at Rocky Mountain College
Cost of Degree: $33,252
Expenses: $15,046
Starting Salary: $47,100
Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What 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

Arlo Guthrie
Lane Chandler
Bill Bowers
Compare school
#2
Montana State University Billings
Billings , MT
#2 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2025 #3 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2026 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2026 #4 Best Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
29%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University Billings
Cost of Degree: $6,706
Expenses: $16,990
Starting Salary: $38,700
Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What 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

Bently Spang
Kristin Korb
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
#3
University of Montana Western
Dillon , MT
#3 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2025 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #4 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2026 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
36%
Graduation
45%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at University of Montana Western
Cost of Degree: $6,431
Expenses: $15,282
Starting Salary: $36,700
Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of Montana Western known for?

University of Montana Western’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Education
Anthropology
History
Mathematics
Biology
Psychology
Literature
Business

Most Influential Alumni

Angela McLean
University of Montana Western’s Online Degrees
BS in Early Childhood Education

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#4
Montana Technological University
Butte , MT
#3 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2026 #5 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2026 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2026 #6 Best Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
57%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1185/22
Career Outlook for degree at Montana Technological University
Cost of Degree: $7,993
Expenses: $16,838
Starting Salary: $52,100
Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Montana Technological University known for?

Montana Technological University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Engineering
Earth Sciences
Nursing
Chemistry
Computer Science
Business
Biology
Mathematics
Medical

Most Influential Alumni

Christina Hulbe
Montana Technological University’s Online Degrees
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#5
Carroll College
Helena , MT
#2 Best Private Colleges in Montana 2026 #3 Best Christian Colleges in Montana 2025 #4 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #5 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2025
Tuition + fees
$39K
Acceptance
78%
Graduation
70%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1140/21
Career Outlook for degree at Carroll College
Cost of Degree: $40,352
Expenses: $15,692
Starting Salary: $49,200
Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What 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

Bobby Petrino
Bernard Joseph Topel
John Gagliardi
Compare school
#6
University of Providence
Great Falls , MT
#10 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2024 #2 Best Christian Colleges in Montana 2025 #3 Best Private Colleges in Montana 2026 #4 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2025
Tuition + fees
$28K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
41%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
730/19
Career Outlook for degree at University of Providence
Cost of Degree: $29,018
Expenses: $15,500
Starting Salary: $38,600
Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of Providence known for?

University of Providence’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Psychology
Criminal Justice
Mathematics
Nursing
Computer Science
Education
Medical
History
Biology

Most Influential Alumni

Jon Tester
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 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2026 #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2026 #7 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2025 #9 Best Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
29%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University–Northern
Cost of Degree: $5,955
Expenses: $11,626
Starting Salary: $40,400
Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Montana State University–Northern known for?

Montana State University–Northern’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Education
Biology
Criminal Justice
Nursing
Medical

Most Influential Alumni

R. Dennis Cook
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 and make walks across campus more fun. 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 degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction 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. Whether 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 of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords 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 asynchronous, 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 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.

Looking for the best liberal arts colleges in Montana for 2026? This guide highlights the institutions in the state that prioritize broad-based undergraduate education, close faculty-student interaction, and experiential learning tied to Montana’s rural and outdoor context. Rather than a single numerical ranking, we emphasize distinctive strengths—class size, curriculum flexibility, field and research opportunities, and community connections—to help prospective students match academic priorities, campus culture, and career preparation.

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

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2026

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana in 2026

Colleges and Universities in Montana

What are Montana’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2023

Last Year’s Ranking:

Career Outlook for degree at Rocky Mountain College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University Billings

Most Influential Alumni

Montana State University Billings’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at University of Montana Western

Most Influential Alumni

University of Montana Western’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Montana Technological University

Most Influential Alumni

Montana Technological University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Carroll College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Providence

Most Influential Alumni

University of Providence’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University–Northern

Most Influential Alumni

Montana State University–Northern’s Online Degrees

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