2026 Best Value Science Education Schools in Montana
[Science Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/science-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong science education education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for science education students.
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2026 Best Value Science Education Schools in Montana
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in science education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Science Education Schools
Montana State University Billings earned the #1 spot for value among science education schools in Montana. Located in the city of Billings, Montana State University Billings is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,280, compared with $22,897 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,465 to complete the science education program here. Science Education graduates of Montana State University Billings earn a median of $39,422 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Montana Western is a great value for students pursuing a degree in science education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Dillon, The University Of Montana Western is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,669, with out-of-state students paying around $20,130. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $22,557. Early-career science education graduates make about $38,151. That is a strong return on a $22,557 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Montana State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in science education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,460, compared with $33,287 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the science education program here. Early-career science education graduates make about $51,732. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
