Best Colleges in Montana 2026

Montana's higher education landscape offers students a compelling mix of affordability and academic quality, with public institutions dominating the top rankings. All five leading schools are public colleges, reflecting the state's strong commitment to accessible education. Montana State University and the University of Montana-Western lead the pack, combining solid academic programs with relatively low tuition costs. When evaluating Montana schools, students should prioritize factors like program strength in their intended major, campus size preferences, and location. With only 7 qualifying institutions statewide, prospective students have a focused but quality selection. The state's emphasis on practical, career-focused education makes these schools particularly valuable for students seeking strong job placement rates and hands-on learning opportunities in fields like agriculture, engineering, and natural resources.

Schools Ranked

$40,102

Avg. Earnings

39.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 23 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Graduation Rate	Median Earnings	Acceptance Rate	In-State Tuition
1	The University of Montana-Western Dillon, Montana	49.5%	$43,229	36.3%	$6,430
2	Montana State University Bozeman, Montana	57.3%	$53,263	73.3%	$8,083
3	Miles Community College Miles City, Montana	48.8%	$42,862		$5,648
4	Montana State University-Northern Havre, Montana	42.3%	$49,505		$6,269
5	Highlands College of Montana Tech Butte, Montana	29.0%	$54,329		$3,980
6	Helena College University of Montana Helena, Montana	41.5%	$40,738		$3,975
7	Montana Technological University Butte, Montana	58.1%	$54,329	89.5%	$8,050
8	Dawson Community College Glendive, Montana	37.9%	$41,951		$4,485
9	Great Falls College Montana State University Great Falls, Montana	32.2%	$38,034		$3,904
10	Montana State University Billings Billings, Montana	28.2%	$44,296		$6,706
11	Carroll College Helena, Montana	66.3%	$61,772	78.1%	$40,352
12	Salish Kootenai College Pablo, Montana	35.2%	$32,725		$4,311
13	Flathead Valley Community College Kalispell, Montana	27.0%	$38,520		$4,748
14	Aaniiih Nakoda College Harlem, Montana	32.4%	$30,528		$3,600
15	Stone Child College Box Elder, Montana	32.5%	$24,555		$3,610
16	The University of Montana Missoula, Montana	45.4%	$44,511	95.4%	$8,152
17	Rocky Mountain College Billings, Montana	46.7%	$49,036	75.2%	$33,252
18	Montana Bible College Billings, Montana	57.1%			$13,600
19	Pima Medical Institute-Dillon Dillon, Montana	63.3%	$30,917
20	University of Providence Great Falls, Montana	46.7%	$48,296	95.5%	$29,018
21	Little Big Horn College Crow Agency, Montana	10.8%	$21,152		$3,200
22	Fort Peck Community College Poplar, Montana	15.9%	$14,747		$2,250
23	Blackfeet Community College Browning, Montana	7.7%	$22,953		$3,610