Best Research Universities in Montana 2024
Interested in attending a STEM school in Montana? Our ranking of top research universities for bachelor’s degrees displays schools that will best prepare you for STEM careers.
Best Research Universities in Montana 2024
- Montana State University 18 to 1
- University of Montana 17 to 1
- Montana State University $5,824
- University of Montana $5,515
- Montana State University $5,241
- University of Montana $5,166
- University of Montana 17 to 1
- Montana State University 18 to 1
- University of Montana $5,515
- Montana State University $5,824
- University of Montana $5,166
- Montana State University $5,241
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.
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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?
- 2 Research Universities
- 7 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 3 Graduate Schools
- 6 Public Colleges & Universities
- 3 Private Colleges & Universities
- 3 Christian Colleges & Universities
- 7 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 6 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
- 2 Community Colleges
- 7 Online Colleges
Montana’s Best Overall
Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges
A research university is a great option for students interested in obtaining STEM degrees. Research universities invest heavily in research, which consequently provides meaningful and extensive opportunities for its students and faculty to participate in research. We’ve identified 2 research universities in Montana. To be included in our ranking, schools must be a fully accredited universities and must must offer doctoral degrees across the range of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).
Best Research Universities in Montana 2023
- #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #1 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2024 #1 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2024 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2024
Other Rankings
- #1 Best Colleges in Montana 2024
- #1 Best Online Master's Programs in Montana 2024
- #1 Best Online Associate Degrees in Montana 2024
- #1 Best Online Colleges in Montana 2024
- #1 Best Online MBA Programs in Montana
- #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Anthropology
- #3 Best Online Associate in Liberal Arts
- #6 Best Online Bachelor’s of Digital Media for 2024
- #7 15 Most Affordable Online Public Health Doctorates (PhDs)
- #9 20 Best Online Master's of Speech Pathology Degree Programs
- #14 Top 20 Most Affordable Online MBA Degree Programs Ranked 2024
- #16 Best Online Bachelor's in Social Work Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
- #18 Best Online Doctorate in Education Degree Programs Ranked for Students
- #21 Best Online Master’s in Education
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
46%
Student body
12K
Career Outlook for degree at University of Montana
Cost of Degree: $7,719Expenses: $17,640Starting Salary: $43,300Cost Recoup Time: 11 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: 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
- #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #2 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2024 #2 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2024 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2024
Other Rankings
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: $7,727Expenses: $16,800Starting Salary: $48,900Cost Recoup Time: 10 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
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Find the Best Research Universities in Montana for Your Area of Interest
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 research universities throughout the U.S. for a look at the top research institutions in every state.