When pursuing a college degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Montana Colleges for a Bachelor's ranking - to help you make that decision.
We analyzed 8 colleges and universities across Montana to determine which ones have the best bachelor's degree programs. Our ranking for the best schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. The following gives more info on what goes into our ranking factors and why we consider those factors.
Better Early-Career Average Salaries
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a bachelor's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. Recent students who earned a bachelor's degree in Montana entered the job market making an average of $37,324 while those in the top 8 schools on our list made an average of $40,365.
Starting Salary ( 29221 to 47322 )
Student Loan Borrowing
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their bachelor's so we factor that into our rankings as well.
During their time at college, bachelor's degree seekers from schools in Montana take out an average of $24,992.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Additional Ranking Factors We Use
Our Best Bachelor's Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt.
These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
Are you more interested in the top bachelor's degree schools in your area? Try narrowing this list by location. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
Our analysis found Montana State University to be the best school for bachelor’s degrees in Montana in this year’s ranking. Bozeman, Montana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,638 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from MSU Bozeman make an average of $39,051 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $24,284 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $305 for a 10-year repayment plan.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at The University of Montana - Western helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Montana. Montana Western is a public institution located in Dillon, Montana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 197 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Montana Western is $33,243 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $25,626.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Providence helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Montana. Located in Great Falls, Montana, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 224 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from University of Providence make an average of $50,642 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $22,573 in student loans.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Montana. The school came in at #4 in Montana on this year’s best bachelor’s degree schools ranking. Located in Missoula, Montana, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,365 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UM go into careers with an average salary of $30,052 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $24,960 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $275 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Montana Technological University. The school came in at #5 in Montana on this year’s best bachelor’s degree schools ranking. Butte, Montana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 283 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Montana Tech go into careers with an average salary of $55,878 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,563 after getting their degree.
Carroll College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Montana ranking. Carroll College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Helena, Montana that handed out 299 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Carroll Montana go into careers with an average salary of $33,212 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,257 after getting their degree.
Montana State University - Billings landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Montana ranking. Montana State University - Billings is a public institution located in Billings, Montana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 422 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Montana State University - Billings is $37,493 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $28,659 after getting their degree.
Montana State University - Northern ranked #8 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Montana list. Montana State University - Northern is a small public school located in Havre, Montana that handed out 122 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Montana State University - Northern go into careers with an average salary of $43,349 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,365.
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).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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