Best Value Teacher Education and Professional Development Colleges in Montana

Montana's Teacher Education programs show striking cost differences, with Stone Child College charging just $5,580 while Carroll College reaches $24,842 annually. Rocky Mountain College graduates earn the highest median salary at $40,017, creating a complex value equation across the state's 10 programs. Montana's rural school districts face persistent teacher shortages, making education graduates particularly valuable in communities where one teacher often covers multiple grade levels or subjects. The state's 56 counties rely heavily on locally trained educators who understand the unique challenges of serving sparse populations across vast distances, from reservation schools to agricultural communities.

Programs

$5,580 – $24,842

Net Price Range

$33,496

Avg. Program Earnings

45.0%

Avg. Graduation Rate

10 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Montana State University-Northern Havre, Montana	$14,164	$32,925	$6,269	42.3%
2	Rocky Mountain College Billings, Montana	$18,508	$40,017	$33,252	46.7%	75.2%
3	Montana State University Billings Billings, Montana	$15,044	$32,284	$6,706	28.2%
4	The University of Montana-Western Dillon, Montana	$16,669	$32,925	$6,430	49.5%	36.3%
5	The University of Montana Missoula, Montana	$17,118	$30,409	$8,152	45.4%	95.4%
6	Montana State University Bozeman, Montana	$20,593	$33,993	$8,083	57.3%	73.3%
7	University of Providence Great Falls, Montana	$20,907	$31,423	$29,018	46.7%	95.5%
8	Carroll College Helena, Montana	$24,842	$33,993	$40,352	66.3%	78.1%
9	Salish Kootenai College Pablo, Montana	$9,002		$4,311	35.2%
10	Stone Child College Box Elder, Montana	$5,580		$3,610	32.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $19,262 cost difference between the most and least expensive programs?

Stone Child College and Salish Kootenai College, both tribal institutions, offer the lowest costs at $5,580 and $9,002 respectively. Private institutions like Carroll College charge significantly more at $24,842, though their graduates achieve higher completion rates at 66.3% compared to 32.5% at Stone Child.

How do graduation rates vary among Montana's teacher preparation programs?

Carroll College leads with a 66.3% graduation rate, followed by Montana State University at 57.3%. Several programs struggle with completion, including Montana State University Billings at 28.2% and Stone Child College at 32.5%.

Does attending a more expensive program guarantee higher earnings?

Not necessarily. Rocky Mountain College graduates earn $40,017 despite moderate costs, while University of Montana graduates earn just $30,409 from a similarly priced program. Montana State University-Northern offers strong value with $32,925 earnings from a $14,164 program.

Where do Montana teacher education graduates find the best job prospects?

Rural districts across Montana's 56 counties actively recruit education graduates, with many offering signing bonuses and loan forgiveness. The state's teacher shortage particularly affects special education and elementary positions in communities with populations under 5,000.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.