Best Online Colleges in Montana 2026
Find the best online colleges in Montana ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs.
Best Online Colleges in Montana in 2026
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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
Best Online Colleges in Montana 2023
- #1 Best Colleges in Montana 2026 #1 Best Research Universities in Montana 2026 #1 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2026 #1 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
96%
Graduation
49%
Student body
13K
Career Outlook for degree at University of Montana
Cost of Degree: $8,152Expenses: $17,076Starting Salary: $48,823Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BA in Anthropology
Concentrations
- Archaeology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA in Art
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA in Communicative Sciences And Disorders
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA in Media Arts
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA in Multidisciplinary Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA/BM in Music
- Required Credits: 120-128-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS in Parks, Tourism and Recreation Management
- Required Credits: 120-128-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS in Public Health
- Required Credits: 120-128-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Colleges in Montana 2026 #2 Best Research Universities in Montana 2026 #2 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2026 #2 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
59%
Student body
19K
Median SAT/ACT
1175/24
Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University
Cost of Degree: $8,083Expenses: $18,588Starting Salary: $59,536Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degree Completion Program
BA in Liberal Studies
Concentrations
- Quaternity
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2026 #2 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2026 #3 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2026 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
31%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University Billings
Cost of Degree: $6,706Expenses: $16,990Starting Salary: $48,199Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
Bachelor’s in Applied Science
Concentrations
- Business
- Health Administration
- Management and Organization Communication
- Management and Public Relations
- Management and Mass Communication
- Mass Communication and Public Relations
- Organizational Communication and Public Relations
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BSBA in Business Administration
Concentrations
- Accounting
- General Business
- Management
- Marketing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
BA in Communication
Concentrations
- Organization
- Media Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
BA in English
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
BSHA in Health Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
BSLS in Liberal Studies
Concentrations
- Management and Organizational Communication
- Management and Public Relations
- Management and Mass Communications
- Mass Communication and Public Relations
- Organizational Communication and Public Relations
- Organizational Communication and Accounting Technology
- Organizational Communication and Human Resource Management
- Health Administration and Organizational Communication
- Health Administration and Public Relations
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
BS in Public Relations
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2026 #3 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2026 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2026 #4 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
46%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at University of Montana Western
Cost of Degree: $6,431Expenses: $15,282Starting Salary: $47,501Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BS in Early Childhood Education
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2026 #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2026 #4 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2026 #5 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
61%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1150/22
Career Outlook for degree at Montana Technological University
Cost of Degree: $7,993Expenses: $16,838Starting Salary: $59,491Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degree Completion Program
BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Private Colleges in Montana 2026 #3 Best Christian Colleges in Montana 2026 #5 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2026 #6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$31K
Acceptance
50%
Graduation
28%
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for degree at University of Providence
Cost of Degree: $29,018Expenses: $15,500Starting Salary: $51,419Cost Recoup Time: 15 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
BS in Healthcare Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
BSN in Nursing: RN To BSN
- Program type: Degree completion
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
- #6 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2026 #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2026 #7 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2026 #7 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2026
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
39%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University–Northern
Cost of Degree: $5,955Expenses: $11,626Starting Salary: $52,907Cost Recoup Time: 8 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BS in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
BAS in Business Technology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
BA in Community Leadership
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
BS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
BSN in Nursing (RN-to-BSN)
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
BAS in Trades Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
