Best Public Colleges in Montana 2024

Badge for BEST IN MONTANA PUBLIC COLLEGES
By Dr. James Barham
Updated:

Public colleges and universities account for almost 75 percent of all undergraduate students in the U.S. The best public colleges in Montana provide broad access to reputable degree programs, affordable tuition, and sprawling educational communities.

Best Public Colleges in Montana

Sort by:
  1. University of Montana
  2. Montana State University
  3. University of Montana Western
  4. Montana State University Billings
  5. Montana Technological University
  6. Montana State University–Northern
  1. University of Montana
  2. Montana State University
  3. Montana State University Billings
  4. University of Montana Western
  5. Montana Technological University
  6. Montana State University–Northern
  1. University of Montana 95%
  2. Montana Technological University 89%
  3. Montana State University 73%
  4. University of Montana Western 36%
  1. Montana State University 18 to 1
  2. University of Montana 17 to 1
  3. Montana State University Billings 15 to 1
  4. University of Montana Western 15 to 1
  5. Montana State University–Northern 14 to 1
  6. Montana Technological University 13 to 1
  1. Montana Technological University $5,878
  2. Montana State University $5,824
  3. University of Montana $5,515
  4. University of Montana Western $4,658
  5. Montana State University Billings $4,620
  6. Montana State University–Northern $4,496
  1. Montana State University Billings $6,172
  2. Montana State University–Northern $5,742
  3. Montana State University $5,241
  4. University of Montana $5,166
  5. Montana Technological University $4,848
  1. Montana State University–Northern
  2. Montana Technological University
  3. Montana State University Billings
  4. University of Montana Western
  5. Montana State University
  6. University of Montana
  1. Montana State University–Northern
  2. Montana Technological University
  3. University of Montana Western
  4. Montana State University Billings
  5. Montana State University
  6. University of Montana
  1. University of Montana Western 36%
  2. Montana State University 73%
  3. Montana Technological University 89%
  4. University of Montana 95%
  1. Montana Technological University 13 to 1
  2. Montana State University–Northern 14 to 1
  3. Montana State University Billings 15 to 1
  4. University of Montana Western 15 to 1
  5. University of Montana 17 to 1
  6. Montana State University 18 to 1
  1. Montana State University–Northern $4,496
  2. Montana State University Billings $4,620
  3. University of Montana Western $4,658
  4. University of Montana $5,515
  5. Montana State University $5,824
  6. Montana Technological University $5,878
  1. Montana Technological University $4,848
  2. University of Montana $5,166
  3. Montana State University $5,241
  4. Montana State University–Northern $5,742
  5. Montana State University Billings $6,172

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 Public Colleges Badge
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This list is composed entirely of public colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 6 public universities in Montana. To be included in our list of the best public colleges in Montana, shcools must receive direct funding from the state, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor’s degress.

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Best Public Colleges in Montana 2023

  1. #1

    University of Montana

    Missoula , MT
    #1 Best Research Universities in Montana 2025 #1 Best Colleges in Montana 2025 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2025 #1 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2025

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    95%

    Graduation

    46%

    Student body

    12K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Montana

    Cost of Degree: $8,152
    Expenses: $17,076
    Starting Salary: $43,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    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
    Compare school
  2. #2

    Montana State University

    Bozeman , MT
    #2 Best Research Universities in Montana 2025 #2 Best Colleges in Montana 2025 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2025 #2 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2025

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    73%

    Graduation

    57%

    Student body

    19K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1180/23

    Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University

    Cost of Degree: $8,083
    Expenses: $18,588
    Starting Salary: $48,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    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
    Compare school
  3. #3

    University of Montana Western

    Dillon , MT
    #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2024 #3 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2025 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2025

    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:

    Most Influential Alumni

    University of Montana Western’s Online Degrees

    BS in Early Childhood Education
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  4. #4

    Montana State University Billings

    Billings , MT
    #2 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2025 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2025 #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2024 #4 Best Colleges in Montana 2025

    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:

    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
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  5. #5

    Montana Technological University

    Butte , MT
    #3 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2025 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2025 #5 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2024 #6 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2025

    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:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Montana Technological University’s Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  7. #6

    Montana State University–Northern

    Havre , MT
    #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2025 #7 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2024 #7 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2025 #9 Best Colleges in Montana 2025

    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:

    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
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Montana’s Best Public College in Your Area of Interest

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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.

  1. Montana State University
  2. University of Montana Western
  3. University of Montana
  4. Montana Technological University

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

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