by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Montana, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **12** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 12 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Your ideal college depends on your goals. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our tool College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Carroll College tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges in Montana. Located in Helena, MT, Carroll College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,484. Carroll College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,797. The median student debt is $24,912.
You'll be in good company at Montana State University, which ranked #2 this year. This public school is set in Bozeman, MT. Montana State University graduates 57% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,703. Typical student debt is $23,635.
A rank of #3 makes Highlands College Of Montana Tech one of the top colleges in Montana. Set in Butte, MT, Highlands College Of Montana Tech is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,127, while out-of-state students pay about $10,948. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,838. Highlands College Of Montana Tech students take on a median of $2,750 in debt.
Out of the 12 colleges in Montana in this year's ranking, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Butte, MT. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,289, with out-of-state students paying around $26,094. Early-career graduates earn a median of $68,773. Typical student debt is $23,962.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Great Falls one of the top colleges in Montana. This private not-for-profit school is set in Great Falls, MT. University Of Great Falls graduates 21% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $30,448. Early-career graduates earn a median of $104,670. The median student debt is $23,847.
Rocky Mountain College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in Billings, MT, Rocky Mountain College is a private not-for-profit institution. Rocky Mountain College posts a six-year graduation rate of 48%. In-state tuition and fees average $35,582. Median early-career earnings reach $50,022. Students borrow a median of $25,666 to complete a degree here.
The University Of Montana did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Missoula, MT, The University Of Montana is a public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,552, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,654. Graduates carry a median of $24,342 in student loans.
The University Of Montana Western ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Dillon, MT, The University Of Montana Western is a public institution. The University Of Montana Western posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,669, with out-of-state students paying around $20,130. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,924 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $22,484.
Dawson Community College placed #9 among the best colleges in Montana. Dawson Community College is a public school based in Glendive, MT. In-state tuition and fees average $5,010, with out-of-state students paying around $9,810. Dawson Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $25,631. Typical student debt is $11,000.
Montana State University Northern came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Havre, MT, Montana State University Northern is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 30%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,982, compared with $21,875 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,896. The median student debt is $23,855.
Montana State University Billings did well this year, earning the #11 position. Montana State University Billings is a public school based in Billings, MT. About 34% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,280, compared with $22,897 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,764 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,465.
Miles Community College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Miles City, MT, Miles Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,500, while out-of-state students pay about $11,220. Miles Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $67,708. Students borrow a median of $20,574 to complete a degree here.
Helena College University Of Montana did well this year, earning the #13 position. Set in Helena, MT, Helena College University Of Montana is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,106, with out-of-state students paying around $11,278. Median early-career earnings reach $47,160. Graduates carry a median of $19,906 in student loans.
Flathead Valley Community College did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in Kalispell, MT, Flathead Valley Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,912, while out-of-state students pay about $11,659. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,868. Typical student debt is $16,094.
Great Falls College Montana State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Great Falls, MT, Great Falls College Montana State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,028, compared with $12,911 for out-of-state students.
Salish Kootenai College landed the #16 spot in Montana this year. Based in Pablo, MT, Salish Kootenai College is a public institution. Roughly 5% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $4,311 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,583. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,607 early in their careers.
Fort Peck Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Poplar, MT. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,250.
Chief Dull Knife College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Lame Deer, MT, Chief Dull Knife College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,260 in tuition and fees.
Aaniiih Nakoda College placed #19 among the best colleges in Montana. Aaniiih Nakoda College is a public school based in Harlem, MT. Students from in state pay about $3,080 in tuition and fees.
Little Big Horn College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Set in Crow Agency, MT, Little Big Horn College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,200 in tuition and fees.
Stone Child College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Box Elder, MT. Stone Child College posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,610.
Blackfeet Community College placed #22 among the best colleges in Montana. Blackfeet Community College is a private not-for-profit school based in Browning, MT. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,610.
Academy Of Cosmetology Bozeman placed #23 among the best colleges in Montana. Academy Of Cosmetology Bozeman is a private for-profit school based in Bozeman, MT. Academy Of Cosmetology Bozeman graduates report median early-career earnings of $21,876. The median student debt is $7,715.
Montana Academy Of Salons came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Great Falls, MT. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $20,211. Typical student debt is $12,752.
Pima Medical Institute Dillon came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Based in Dillon, MT, Pima Medical Institute Dillon is a private for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $31,470. Graduates carry a median of $14,273 in student loans.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
