Best Online Colleges in Montana 2024

Published: Jan 4, 2022
Updated: Nov 22, 2023

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

University of Montana
Montana State University
Montana State University Billings
University of Montana Western
University of Providence
Montana Technological University
Montana State University–Northern

University of Providence 100%
Montana Technological University 90%
University of Montana 82%
Montana State University 73%
University of Montana Western 33%

University of Montana 18 to 1
Montana State University 17 to 1
Montana State University Billings 15 to 1
University of Montana Western 14 to 1
Montana State University–Northern 14 to 1
Montana Technological University 13 to 1
University of Providence 8 to 1

University of Providence $26,812
Montana Technological University $5,707
Montana State University $5,654
University of Montana $5,352
University of Montana Western $4,523
Montana State University–Northern $4,496
Montana State University Billings $4,485

University of Providence $24,327
Montana State University Billings $5,878
Montana State University–Northern $5,742
Montana State University $5,089
University of Montana $4,932
Montana Technological University $4,706

Montana State University–Northern
Montana Technological University
University of Providence
University of Montana Western
Montana State University Billings
Montana State University
University of Montana

University of Montana Western 33%
Montana State University 73%
University of Montana 82%
Montana Technological University 90%
University of Providence 100%

University of Providence 8 to 1
Montana Technological University 13 to 1
University of Montana Western 14 to 1
Montana State University–Northern 14 to 1
Montana State University Billings 15 to 1
Montana State University 17 to 1
University of Montana 18 to 1

Montana State University Billings $4,485
Montana State University–Northern $4,496
University of Montana Western $4,523
University of Montana $5,352
Montana State University $5,654
Montana Technological University $5,707
University of Providence $26,812

Montana Technological University $4,706
University of Montana $4,932
Montana State University $5,089
Montana State University–Northern $5,742
Montana State University Billings $5,878
University of Providence $24,327

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

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

Online education has grown dramatically in quality, credibility, and popularity over the last two decades. Today, more than a quarter of all college students are taking at least one online course. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 5 million college students who are pursuing their undergraduate degree fully online. And the number of online college and graduate students continues to grow as online technology and instructional methods improve.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to remote learning has proven an essential part of the educational ecosystem. Schools that offer primarily online degree programs saw an increase of 7% enrollment just between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. The number of traditional institutions offering online courses and degrees is growing as well. This all paints a promising picture for the future of online education. But it also produces a dizzying array of options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Online Colleges 2022

Asynchronous learning means classes don’t meet at set times. This is the most flexible online learning experience, making when you cover your course material up to you. Most asynchronous online courses will still have deadlines throughout the semester for various assignments and tests. Some asynchronous classes may still ask for an occasional meeting, such as initial meet-and-greets, and in some cases there may be scheduled test times. The idea of asynchronous learning is to allow the student to manage their schedules as needed.

Synchronous learning means you will have scheduled meeting times for your online classes. Synchronous learning gives online students the flexibility of location while also giving students a chance to engage with each other and their professors. For many online students, the structured class schedules and ability to see and hear from peers in real-time helps create the learning experience they want.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities—educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

How do we determine the best online colleges for undergrads?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Best Online Colleges in Montana 2023

#1
University of Montana
Missoula , MT
#1 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2024 #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #1 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2024 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
48%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1145/23
Career Outlook for degree at University of Montana
Cost of Degree: $7,492
Expenses: $15,604
Starting Salary: $39,987
Salary after 4 years: $47,585
Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online 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
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#2
Montana State University
Bozeman , MT
#2 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2024 #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #2 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2024 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
73%
Graduation
55%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1205/24
Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University
Cost of Degree: $7,528
Expenses: $15,758
Starting Salary: $45,209
Salary after 4 years: $52,302
Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Degree Completion Program
BA in Liberal Studies

Concentrations

Quaternity

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4-6 years
Format: Online
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#3
University of Providence
Great Falls , MT
#10 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2024 #3 Best Christian Colleges in Montana 2024 #3 Best Private Colleges in Montana 2024 #5 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$27K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
39%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
920/19
Career Outlook for degree at University of Providence
Cost of Degree: $26,662
Expenses: $14,746
Starting Salary: $82,083
Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online 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
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#4
Montana Technological University
Butte , MT
#3 Best Graduate Schools in Montana 2024 #5 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2024 #5 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2024 #5 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
90%
Graduation
57%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1202/24
Career Outlook for degree at Montana Technological University
Cost of Degree: $7,346
Expenses: $16,360
Starting Salary: $70,171
Salary after 4 years: $71,909
Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Degree Completion Program
BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4-6 years
Format: Online
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#5
University of Montana Western
Dillon , MT
#1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2024 #1 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2024 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #3 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2024
Other Rankings
- #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2024
- #3 Best Colleges in Montana 2024
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
33%
Graduation
42%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1005/18
Career Outlook for degree at University of Montana Western
Cost of Degree: $5,726
Expenses: $12,804
Starting Salary: $35,344
Salary after 4 years: $46,680
Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Degrees
BS in Early Childhood Education

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
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#6
Montana State University Billings
Billings , MT
#3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2024 #3 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2024 #4 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2024 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
28%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University Billings
Cost of Degree: $6,022
Expenses: $14,236
Starting Salary: $45,449
Salary after 4 years: $50,757
Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online 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
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#7
Montana State University–Northern
Havre , MT
#6 Best Public Colleges in Montana 2024 #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Montana 2024 #7 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Montana 2024 #7 Best Small Colleges in Montana 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
31%
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University–Northern
Cost of Degree: $5,955
Expenses: $11,070
Starting Salary: $38,662
Salary after 4 years: $56,076
Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online 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
Compare school

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Best Online Colleges in Montana 2024

Best Online Colleges in Montana

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Montana

What are Montana’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Online Colleges in Montana 2023

Career Outlook for degree at University of Montana

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University

Online Degree Completion Program

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at University of Providence

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Montana Technological University

Online Degree Completion Program

Career Outlook for degree at University of Montana Western

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University Billings

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Montana State University–Northern

Online Degrees