Best Small Colleges in Montana 2025

Badge for BEST IN MONTANA SMALL COLLEGES

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Chloe Dembski

Published: Apr 19, 2021
Updated: Nov 6, 2024

Small colleges in Montana are a great option for students interested in a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Whether the focus is on the technical or on the liberal arts, small colleges give you the chance to pursue a well-rounded education while working closely with classmates and professors in a dynamic community atmosphere.

Key Takeaways

The best small colleges in Montana are known for their low student-to-faculty ratios, allowing students to receive individualized attention and build close relationships with professors, which enhances the academic experience.
Many of the best small colleges in Montana emphasize hands-on learning through fieldwork, internships, and research projects, especially in programs related to Montana’s natural environment, such as environmental science and wildlife studies.
Located in picturesque settings, the colleges in our ranking provide students with easy access to outdoor recreational activities like hiking, skiing, and fishing, creating a campus experience that blends academics with Montana’s natural beauty.

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2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, the top schools in our ranking of the best small colleges in Montana saw a substantial amount of movement. The University of Providence gained the most ranking positions as the university’s Division of Nursing has gained recognition from research.com for its excellence, enhancing the university’s reputation in healthcare education. Additionally, the university will undergo a comprehensive accreditation review by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) in spring 2025, highlighting its commitment to maintaining high academic standards. In athletics, UP has announced its roster for the men’s ice hockey team and released the women’s volleyball schedule for the 2024-25 season, showcasing a strong focus on athletics.

UP has also improved its national ranking, rising to #553 out of 2,152 colleges on College Factual’s 2025 Best Colleges list and achieving the #1 ranking among colleges in Montana. These developments reflect UP’s dedication to academic, athletic, and institutional growth, making it an attractive choice for prospective students.

The following list of the best small colleges and universities in Montana is composed mainly of four-year undergraduate schools (though a handful also offer graduate programs). We’ve identified 7 small colleges in Montana. The list below of the best small colleges in Montana. To be included schools must fully accredited, and must have student body populations below 5,000 students.