Colleges in Montana
13 colleges in Montana that award bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates: 9 public and 4 private. 3 of them, mostly state colleges, award bachelor's degrees in fewer than a quarter of their undergraduate awards, and 1 award a substantial mix of both. Among colleges where most degrees awarded are bachelor's, the lowest average net price is at Salish Kootenai College ($7,945 a year after grants). Numbers are averages for students receiving federal aid; open a school to see what a family at your income pays.
| College | City | Type | Undergrads | Acceptance | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaniiih Nakoda College | Harlem | PublicMostly 2-year · 2% bachelor's | 106 | — | $7,887 | 34% | $30,528 |
| Blackfeet Community College | Browning | PrivateMostly 2-year · 4% bachelor's | 286 | — | $5,410 | 62% | $22,953 |
| Carroll College | Helena | Private | 1,092 | 71% | $23,960 | 69% | $61,772 |
| Montana State University | Bozeman | Public | 14,451 | 82% | $22,499 | 57% | $53,263 |
| Montana State University Billings | Billings | Public | 2,626 | — | $16,524 | 30% | $44,296 |
| Montana State University-Northern | Havre | PublicBachelor's & associate · 45% bachelor's | 761 | — | $12,664 | 41% | $49,505 |
| Montana Technological University | Butte | Public | 1,480 | 91% | $16,481 | 58% | $54,329 |
| Rocky Mountain College | Billings | Private | 840 | 70% | $19,751 | 48% | $49,036 |
| Salish Kootenai College | Pablo | Public | 580 | — | $7,945 | 28% | $32,725 |
| Stone Child College | Box Elder | PublicMostly 2-year · 19% bachelor's | 193 | — | $4,424 | 34% | $24,555 |
| The University of Montana | Missoula | Public | 7,488 | 96% | $16,784 | 48% | $44,511 |
| The University of Montana-Western | Dillon | Public | 1,198 | 100% | $16,558 | 51% | $43,229 |
| University of Providence | Great Falls | Private | 528 | 50% | $17,649 | 28% | $48,296 |
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, latest reported year. Graduation within 6 years; earnings are the median 10 years after starting college.
Best value in Montana for your income
The Montana colleges that pay back fastest for a family at your income: what it costs to finish after grants, set against how much more former students earn than high school graduates in Montana. Pick your income.
| # | College | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Earnings, 10 yrs | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carroll CollegePrivate | $19,139 | $80,575 | $61,772 | 2.9 |
| 2 | Montana Technological UniversityPublic, in-state price | $15,187 | $67,886 | $54,329 | 3.3 |
| 3 | Rocky Mountain CollegePrivate | $14,957 | $65,213 | $49,036 | 4.2 |
| 4 | Montana State UniversityPublic, in-state price | $21,977 | $97,578 | $53,263 | 4.9 |
| 5 | University of ProvidencePrivate | $16,802 | $73,593 | $48,296 | 5.0 |
| 6 | The University of MontanaPublic, in-state price | $17,180 | $75,764 | $44,511 | 6.9 |
| 7 | Montana State University BillingsPublic, in-state price | $16,749 | $77,045 | $44,296 | 7.1 |
| 8 | The University of Montana-WesternPublic, in-state price | $15,951 | $69,706 | $43,229 | 7.2 |
Colleges where most degrees awarded are bachelor's, ranked by years of earnings gain needed to repay the cost to finish at this income. Cost to finish = net price after grants × the average years graduates took (IPEDS). Earnings gain = former students' median earnings 10 years after starting (College Scorecard) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in Montana (Census ACS 2020-2024). Before taxes, interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
Not sure where to start?
Get a free report that compares up to 5 colleges on what your family would actually pay, what graduates earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free report