Overview of Montana Colleges & Schools

Finding the Best College in Montana

The unique search tools curated by the team at MatchCollege allows students looking to apply to colleges in Montana the ability to locate specific information about 4-year colleges and 2-year colleges. Finding out more about Montana college majors, schools, and statistics is just a click away. Find out today what colleges can be found in the State of Montana and the perfect college match for you.

Exploring Colleges in Montana

Finding your perfect college match in the State of Montana has never been easier with MatchCollege. Our exclusive educational portal contains all types of colleges from public universities to private colleges and liberal arts schools to community colleges throughout the Montana state college system. You can quickly find a complete list of accredited colleges in Montana plus each school’s online degrees programs for public and private and public higher education institutions. Montana’s top ranked colleges are listed in concise format that includes, 3D campus tours, attendance statistics, sports programs, acceptance rates, enrollment trends, degree tracks, courses, and career information for college-bound students.

Though the state of Montana is large in terms of area, it is 44th out of 50 states in terms of population. As a result there are a limited number of post-secondary educational institutions, particularly private institutions. The state is home to two public university sub-systems and a number of community college, most of which are tribal colleges dedicated to the education of residents primarily of amerindian descent. A majority of colleges and universities will be found in larger cities. The state capital is Helena and the largest city is Billings.

The Montana University system was formed in 1994 in an attempt to consolidate due to decreased funding for education. The two university sub-systems each have four campuses, one of which is considered the main campus which provides library and administrative assistance to the other campuses, though each campus has its own programs and curriculums approved separately by the board of regents.

University of Montana System campuses:

University of Montana (Missoula)
University of Montana Western (Dillon)
Montana Tech of the University of Montana (Butte)
University of Montana - Helena College of Technology (Helena)

Montana State University System campuses:

Montana State University (Bozeman)
Montana State University Billings (Billings)
Montana State University - Northern (Havre)
Montana State University College of Technology (Great Falls)

There are very private four year institutions in Montana due to the low population of the state. The schools that are there have a foundations based in various Christian denominations, offering faith based liberal arts educations. These schools tend to be more expensive than their public school counterparts, though they will have smaller class sizes and a better student to teacher ratio. Private school also tend to have more educational opportunities for its students overall, such as internships and study abroad programs.

Private four year institutions in Montana:

Montana is also home to a number of technical, trade and career schools offering residents educations in high demand fields with the intent of job entry upon graduation. These programs typically take less than a year to complete and are significantly more expensive than community college counterparts. The high price is usually accompanied by lifetime job placement services. Such school should be checked for success rate and services prior to enrollment to ensure quality.

The most populous city in Montana is Billings, followed by Missoula and Great Falls. While the most populous county in Montana is Yellowstone County with Missoula County close behind. If you are interested in visiting the state of Montana, consider visiting their state page or the state chapter of the Chamber of Commerce.

College Degree Breakdown for the State of Montana

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, NCES, O*NET Online

Doctoral or professional degree	10,800	2.4
Master's degree	8,540	1.9
Bachelor's degree	82,100	18.1
Associate's degree	11,650	2.6
Postsecondary nondegree award	28,490	6.3
Some college, no degree	14,790	3.3
High school diploma or equivalent	163,290	35.9
No formal educational credential	135,070	29.7

Public Universities & Colleges

There are zero public 4-year state universities and colleges in Montana. These four-year institutions predominantly offer bachelor's or higher level programs and some may even include research facilities. See a state-wide list of the state universities and colleges in Montana.

Private Universities & Colleges

In Montana there are zero accredited private four-year colleges. Similar to public schools, private colleges and universities offer bachelor's or higher level programs and research opportunities, although they usually have smaller classes and higher tuition. Compare admission requirements and tuition details for private colleges in Montana.

Community Colleges

Community colleges are public institutions that offer low cost, high quality education for residents throughout the state. These schools offer 2-year programs that grant associate degrees or offer training courses in specialized trades. Montana" Community colleges also are the number one transfer-out programs available for four-year colleges and universities. Learn more and compare community colleges in Montana.

Liberal Arts Colleges

Montana has zero accredited liberal arts colleges. These schools primarily focus on undergraduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences through comprehensive and flexible curriculums. Compare all the liberal arts colleges in Montana.

Bible & Christian Colleges

Bible and Christian colleges generally provide specialized undergraduate education with a focus on religious or biblical study. There are approximately zero such colleges in Montana located throughout the state. See a full list of Christian colleges in Montana along with program and tuition information.

Browse Schools by Career in Montana

Follow the links below to get information on accredited schools in our database that offer programs or degrees.

Medicine & Healthcare

Medical Schools in Montana (M.D.) ( Schools)
Pharmacy Schools in Montana (Pharm. D.) ( Schools)
Dental Schools in Montana (D.D.S.) ( Schools)
Veterinary Schools in Montana (D.V.M.) ( Schools)
Nursing Schools in Montana (BSN, RN, LPN, ...) (A Schools)

Law & Criminal Justice

Law Schools in Montana (J.D.) ( Schools)

Montana College Student Resources

With a simple click, you can access hundreds of free educational resources in addition to our proprietary search tools. The key to finding your perfect college match is to understand your aspirations, personal criteria, learning style, career objectives, and overarching goals before deciding upon a college or university. Utilize our resources below to make the most of your educational experience in Montana.