Best Private Colleges in Montana 2023

Best Private Colleges in Montana 2023
By James Barham
Published:
Updated:

Private colleges, unlike large public institutions, can be a great option for students wanting a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Here is our list of the best private colleges in Montana.

Best Private Colleges in Montana

Sort by:
  1. Rocky Mountain College
    2. 23%
  2. Carroll College
    3. 19%
  3. University of Providence
    4. 17%
  1. University of Providence
    2. 100%
  2. Carroll College
    3. 84%
  3. Rocky Mountain College
    4. 81%
  1. Carroll College
    2. 11 to 1
  2. Rocky Mountain College
    3. 11 to 1
  3. University of Providence
    4. 8 to 1
  1. Carroll College
    2. $38,106
  2. Rocky Mountain College
    3. $31,335
  3. University of Providence
    4. $26,812
  1. Rocky Mountain College
    2. $30,258
  2. University of Providence
    3. $24,327
  3. Carroll College
    4. $18,435
  1. University of Providence
    2. 17%
  2. Carroll College
    3. 19%
  3. Rocky Mountain College
    4. 23%
  1. Rocky Mountain College
    2. 81%
  2. Carroll College
    3. 84%
  3. University of Providence
    4. 100%
  1. University of Providence
    2. 8 to 1
  2. Carroll College
    3. 11 to 1
  3. Rocky Mountain College
    4. 11 to 1
  1. University of Providence
    2. $26,812
  2. Rocky Mountain College
    3. $31,335
  3. Carroll College
    4. $38,106
  1. Carroll College
    2. $18,435
  2. University of Providence
    3. $24,327
  3. Rocky Mountain College
    4. $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

What is the difference between public and private colleges?

Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.

Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.

Montana's Best Private Colleges and Universities Badge
Download Badge

This list is composed entirely of private colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 3 private universities in Montana. To be included in the list below of the best private universities in Montana, schools must be fully accredited, private, non-profit institution, and must offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees.

Back to Top

Best Private Colleges in Montana

  3. #3

    University of Providence

    Great Falls , MT
    #10 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2023 #3 Best Christian Colleges in Montana 2023 #5 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023 #6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2023
    Other Rankings

    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
Back to Top

Montana’s Best Private Colleges in Your Area Interest

Anthropology Biology Business Chemistry Commun­ications Computer Science Criminal Justice Earth Sciences Economics Education Engineering History Law Literature Mathematics Medical Nursing Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Religious Studies Social Work Sociology
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.

  1. Carroll College
  2. Rocky Mountain College

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

This website uses cookies to enhance the user experience. Read the Privacy Policy for more.