by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Top Montana Colleges ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
We analyzed 12 colleges and universities across Montana to determine which were the best in terms of overall quality. Our ranking methodology focuses on over 20 different objective factors - such as graduation rate, post graduate earnings, and a school's average expenditure per student - to make this determination.
Learn more about our ranking methodology.
We've developed a number of other tools and rankings to help you make your college decision. Start by filtering this list by location or field of study and then explore our other rankings that feature schools great for different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.
We've created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you're torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another!
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2025 rankings named University of Providence the best school in Montana in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
With a student-to-faculty rate of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. During the early years of their career, graduates from University of Providence make an average of $48,296 a year.
A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges in Montana list means Montana State University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $53,263 during the early years of their career..
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Montana. It ranked #3 on our 2025 Best Colleges in Montana list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UM make an average of $44,511 per year during the early years of their career.
Out of the 12 schools in Montana that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Montana - Western landed the #4 spot on the list.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $43,229 during the early years of their career..
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Montana Technological University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Montana.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $54,329 during the early years of their career..
Dawson Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Montana ranking, coming in at #6.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from DCC make an average of $41,951 per year during the early years of their career.
Carroll College landed the #7 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Montana ranking.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Carroll Montana make an average of $61,772 a year.
Montana State University - Billings ranked #8 on this year’s Best Colleges in Montana list.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $44,296 during the early years of their career..
Helena College University of Montana did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Montana ranking, coming in at #9.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Helena College make an average of $40,738 per year during the early years of their career.
Rocky Mountain College did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Montana ranking, coming in at #10.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Rocky is $49,036 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #11, Flathead Valley Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Montana list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Flathead Valley Community College make an average of $38,520 per year during the early years of their career.
Montana State University - Northern came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Montana ranking.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Montana State University - Northern make an average of $49,505 per year during the early years of their career.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 12 schools only.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.