by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Montana, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights 26 graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed graduate schools across over 20 objective factors 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.
The best graduate school for you depends on what you want to study. Narrow your 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 to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Our analysis found Carroll College to be the best graduate school in Montana. Based in Helena, MT, Carroll College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $41,484. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,797. Graduates carry a median of $24,912 in student loans.
Montana State University came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Montana. This public school is set in Bozeman, MT. About 57% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,460 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,287 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,703 early in their careers. Montana State University students take on a median of $23,635 in debt.
You'll be in good company at Highlands College Of Montana Tech, which ranked #3 this year. Based 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. Median early-career earnings reach $58,838. Highlands College Of Montana Tech students take on a median of $2,750 in debt.
Out of the 26 graduate schools in Montana in this year's ranking, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana landed the #4 spot. Located in Butte, MT, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a public institution. Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana graduates 58% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,289, while out-of-state students pay about $26,094. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,773 early in their careers. The median student debt is $23,962.
You'll be in good company at University Of Great Falls, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Great Falls, MT, University Of Great Falls is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 21%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,448. Graduates go on to earn a median of $104,670 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,847 in student loans.
Rocky Mountain College placed #6 among the best graduate schools in Montana. Set in Billings, MT, Rocky Mountain College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,582. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,022 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,666 to complete a degree here.
The University Of Montana placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Montana. This public school is set in Missoula, MT. About 49% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,552, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,654 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,342 to complete a degree here.
The University Of Montana Western landed the #8 spot in Montana this year. Set 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%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,669, while out-of-state students pay about $20,130. Median early-career earnings reach $36,924. The University Of Montana Western students take on a median of $22,484 in debt.
Dawson Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Dawson Community College is a public school based in Glendive, MT. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,010, compared with $9,810 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $25,631. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete a degree here.
Montana State University Northern ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Havre, MT, Montana State University Northern is a public institution. About 30% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,982, compared with $21,875 for out-of-state students. Montana State University Northern graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,896. Typical student debt is $23,855.
Montana State University Billings ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Billings, MT. Montana State University Billings posts a six-year graduation rate of 34%. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,280, with out-of-state students paying around $22,897. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,764. The median student debt is $25,465.
Miles Community College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Set 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $67,708. Miles Community College students take on a median of $20,574 in debt.
Helena College University Of Montana did well this year, earning the #13 position. This public school is set in Helena, MT. Students from in state pay about $4,106 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,278 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,160. Helena College University Of Montana students take on a median of $19,906 in debt.
Flathead Valley Community College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Kalispell, MT. Students from in state pay about $4,912 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,659. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,868 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $16,094 in student loans.
Great Falls College Montana State University landed the #15 spot in Montana this year. Located in Great Falls, MT, Great Falls College Montana State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,028, with out-of-state students paying around $12,911.
Salish Kootenai College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Pablo, MT. Roughly 5% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,311, compared with $11,583 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,607.
Fort Peck Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Poplar, MT, Fort Peck Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,250.
Chief Dull Knife College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Based in Lame Deer, MT, Chief Dull Knife College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,260.
Aaniiih Nakoda College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Set in Harlem, MT, Aaniiih Nakoda College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,080 in tuition and fees.
Little Big Horn College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Located in Crow Agency, MT, Little Big Horn College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,200.
Stone Child College placed #21 among the best graduate schools in Montana. This public school is set in Box Elder, MT. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,610.
Blackfeet Community College placed #22 among the best graduate schools in Montana. This private not-for-profit school is set in Browning, MT. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,610.
Academy Of Cosmetology Bozeman landed the #23 spot in Montana this year. Based in Bozeman, MT, Academy Of Cosmetology Bozeman is a private for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $21,876. Graduates carry a median of $7,715 in student loans.
Montana Academy Of Salons landed the #24 spot in Montana this year. This private for-profit school is set in Great Falls, MT. Early-career graduates earn a median of $20,211. Graduates carry a median of $12,752 in student loans.
Pima Medical Institute Dillon came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Pima Medical Institute Dillon is a private for-profit school based in Dillon, MT. Graduates go on to earn a median of $31,470 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $14,273.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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
See our data sources and methodologies.
