by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking for a college that has your back, you’ve come to the right place. This list highlights 25 colleges ranked on how well they support veterans in Montana, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits, academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. To help you decide, College Factual evaluated 25 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Your ideal fit depends on your goals and benefits. Refine the list by location, or explore our other rankings below.
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.
Explore the leading colleges for veterans below:
Our analysis found Montana Technological University to be the #1 college for veterans in Montana. Montana Technological University scores 80.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Out of the 25 colleges in Montana in this year's ranking, The University of Montana landed the #2 spot. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 79.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
University of Providence earned the #3 place in Montana. It scores 74.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 93.5, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
A rank of #4 makes The University of Montana-Western one of the best colleges for veterans in Montana. The University of Montana-Western scores 74.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Out of the 25 colleges in Montana in this year's ranking, Montana State University landed the #5 spot. Montana State University scores 74.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Great Falls College Montana State University earned the #6 position in Montana. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 72.3 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Montana Academy of Salons came in at #7 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 66.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Carroll College landed the #8 spot in Montana this year. The school's overall veterans score is 64.4 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 67.2, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Montana State University Billings placed #9 among the best colleges for veterans in Montana. The school's overall veterans score is 61.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Helena College University of Montana placed #10 among the best colleges for veterans in Montana. The school's overall veterans score is 61.3 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Rocky Mountain College landed the #11 spot in Montana this year. It scores 59.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 81.6, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Montana State University-Northern ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. It scores 59.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Miles Community College placed #13 among the best colleges for veterans in Montana. It scores 55.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Flathead Valley Community College placed #14 among the best colleges for veterans in Montana. Flathead Valley Community College scores 55.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Chief Dull Knife College earned the #15 position in Montana. The school's overall veterans score is 54.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Blackfeet Community College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Blackfeet Community College scores 52.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0.
Crevier's Academy of Cosmetology Arts earned the #17 position in Montana. The school's overall veterans score is 52.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Salish Kootenai College earned the #18 position in Montana. Salish Kootenai College scores 49.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0.
Dawson Community College landed the #19 spot in Montana this year. Dawson Community College scores 48.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 0.0 veteran-resources score.
Aveda Institute Montana ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 46.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 0.0.
Pima Medical Institute-Dillon placed #21 among the best colleges for veterans in Montana. It scores 44.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Fort Peck Community College placed #22 among the best colleges for veterans in Montana. Fort Peck Community College scores 41.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 0.0 veteran-resources score.
Aaniiih Nakoda College earned the #23 position in Montana. The school's overall veterans score is 40.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0.
Stone Child College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 38.1 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 0.0 veteran-resources score.
Academy of Cosmetology came in at #25 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 37.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits, academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
