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Best UUÖ±²¥s in Montana

By Usmaan Farooqui • Edited by Bailey Fletcher • Updated 7/8/2024

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  • Popular
  • Highly Rated
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Montana's online universities, including the University of Montana and Montana State University, provide quality education with opportunities for remote learners, including asynchronous coursework that allows you to learn at your own pace. These programs cover diverse fields such as business, education, healthcare, and technology.

Key Takeaways: 

  • The Best by Salary Score list comprises Montana Technological University and the University of Providence. Both institutions exhibit outstanding median earnings among graduates, at $76,289 and $69,974 respectively.
  • The Highest Rated by Students category is led by Montana State University, which boasts a high recommendation rate of 91%. 

We consider several categories to determined the best online schools in Montana, including Salary Score, student ratings, and Honorable Mentions, instead of a traditional ranking system. For more detailed insights, please refer to our methodology.

Want an online degree that's:

  • Affordable
  • Popular
  • Highly Rated
  • Military-friendly

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Best by Salary Score

The Best by Salary Score category evaluates Montana's online schools based on alumni earnings, offering insight into long-term financial returns. Utilizing data from the U.S. Department of Education, we assign a Salary Score to each institution, represented as letter grades, reflecting early career salaries four years post-graduation for alumni who received federal financial aid. Schools with the Best by Salary Scores all have median earnings exceeding $69,000.

Montana Technological University

Key Metrics:

  • Salary Score: A
  • Median Earning: $76,289

Why We Like Them:

MTech stands out with a remarkable median earnings of $76,289 for its graduates, placing it in the top 10% of programs nationwide based on salary outcomes. This strong financial return is a critical factor that highlights the school’s commitment to high-quality education and its effectiveness in preparing you for lucrative careers. Additionally, the university's online programs are complemented by a notable recommendation rate of 80%, suggesting strong overall satisfaction among students. MTech's online offerings include two master's degrees: (1) an online MS in Industrial Hygiene and (2) an online MS in Project Engineering and Management.

What Students Say:

"Overall, Montana Tech is a great institution. I received my Associate's and Bachelor's degree there and recently returned to graduate school to work on a Master's. The faculty and staff are generally helpful, and most would go the extra mile for you."

Luke Buckley, Graduated 2018

University of Providence

Key Metrics:

  • Salary Score: A-
  • Median Earning: $69,974

Why We Like Them:

UP boasts a notable median salary of $69,974 among its alumni that place the school in the top 16% nationally. This is further supported by a low student-faculty ratio of 7:1, situating UP among the top 7% of institutions when it comes to plenty of personalized attention, an ideal online learning environment. UP also offers a comprehensive range of online programs, including associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees mainly in healthcare, showcasing a well-established online infrastructure tailored to flexible learning environments for busy professionals.

Highest Rated by Students

In the Highest Rated by Students category, we spotlight online schools based on alumni reviews, which are a reliable measure of student satisfaction. To qualify, schools must have at least 20 student reviews. Montana's online school with a high student review rating of 4.07 out of 5 also boasts a 91% recommendation rate.

Montana State University

Key Metrics:

  • Overall Rating: 3.94/5
  • Number of Reviews: 58
  • Recommend Rate: 88%

Why We Like Them:

MSU has a high overall review rating of 4.07 out of 5, reflecting strong positive feedback from its online students. When we add the high recommendation rate of 91%, it is clear that the majority who enroll here would endorse this university to others, signaling a satisfying educational experience. Another compelling factor is that 100% of online students at MSU receive financial aid, making it highly accessible to you regardless of your financial situation. The fully online degree and certificate programs are diverse and cater to a wide range of interests — from an online master’s in music education to degrees in science education.

What Students Say:

"MSU provided a great education that prepared me well for the real world"

Anonymous, Graduated 2013

Honorable Mention

Our Honorable Mentions category showcases an online school in Montana with unique and noteworthy offerings, including data verified by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Our pick has high ratings from students, small class sizes, median earnings in the top half nationwide, and more. 

Montana State University - Billings

Key Metrics:

  • Online Students: 986

Why We Like Them:

At MSU, the online enrollment of 986 students is a standout factor, reflecting the university’s commitment to accessible online education. Additionally, MSU's recommendation rate is noteworthy at 86%, showcasing that the majority of online learners have positive experiences and are willing to endorse the school to others. Further bolstering your educational prospects, the median earnings for MSU alums are about $50,791, which is in the top 54% compared to other institutions, indicating a strong return on investment for your education. When it comes to online offerings, you can choose from a range of online associate, bachelor's, master's, and certificate programs across a broad spectrum of disciplines and concentrations.

What Students Say:

"I loved my professors and classes at MSU-Billings... Every day I went to class felt like entering a friendly discussion with peers in a non-judgmental environment. The educational environment was great, and they provide a lot of financial assistance."

Kelsey Devlin, Graduated 2017

Want an online degree that's:

  • Affordable
  • Popular
  • Highly Rated
  • Military-friendly

We've got them. Let's get started.

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Higher Education in Montana

Montana is the by area, but it's one of the lowest when it comes to population density, coming in at 48th place. This means that the state's are spread far and wide in mainly rural and small town settings. The majority of these institutions in Montana are community colleges. All but six of Montana's colleges and universities are public schools offering lower tuition rates to in-state residents.

Several Montana schools feature online degree programs, including both public and religious, private universities. Many of these programs have completely remote coursework to save students from having to travel vast distances to attend a campus. This mode of learning may help students balance work with school and other responsibilities in their lives. 

Are you interested in social work or nursing? Then check out our lists of online MSW programs in Montana and online nursing programs in Montana.

FAQs About UUÖ±²¥s in Montana

How Many Colleges Are in Montana?


Montana is home to 24 colleges that grant associate degrees or higher. Fourteen of these schools offer bachelor's degree programs. 

How Many Tribal Colleges Are in Montana?


There are (TCUs) in Montana. This is more than in any other state. Four of Montana's TCUs offer bachelor's degrees and one has graduate degree programs. 

How Many Public Colleges Are in Montana?


Eighteen of Montana's 23 colleges are public institutions. This number includes the state's largest school, Montana State University

How Much Is College in Montana?


The National Center for Education Statistics provides the following for Montana colleges in the 2022-2023 school year. 

  • Public four-year college, in-state resident: $7,299
  • Public four-year college, out-of-state resident: $28,682
  • Private four-year college: $31,464
  • Public two-year college, in-state resident: $4,077
  • Public two-year college, out-of-state resident: $7,613

We also think it's important to note that colleges usually do not offer in-state tuition rates for online students. Tuition policies can vary significantly, however, with many colleges setting unique rates for online programs that differ from their in-state or out-of-state tuition rates. Some institutions have a flat rate for online courses applicable to all students regardless of residency, while others might provide special rates or discounts for in-state students. Prospective online students should thoroughly research the tuition policies of specific colleges to understand the associated costs.

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