by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Top Montana Colleges ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
We analyzed 12 colleges and universities across Montana to determine which were the best in terms of overall quality. Our ranking methodology focuses on over 20 different objective factors - such as graduation rate, post graduate earnings, and a school's average expenditure per student - to make this determination.
We've developed a number of other tools and rankings to help you make your college decision. Start by filtering this list by location or field of study and then explore our other rankings that feature schools great for different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.
We've created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you're torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another!
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University of Providence tops this year’s ranking as the best school in Montana for overall quality.
The impressive student-to-faculty rate of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. During the early years of their career, graduates from University of Providence make an average of $48,296 a year.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Montana State University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Montana.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from MSU Bozeman go into careers with an average salary of $53,263 during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Montana. It ranked #3 on our 2025 Best Colleges in Montana list.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UM go into careers with an average salary of $44,511 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #4 on our Best Colleges in Montana list means The University of Montana - Western is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Montana Western go into careers with an average salary of $43,229 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Montana Technological University. The school came in at #5 in Montana on this year’s overall quality ranking.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Montana Tech make an average of $54,329 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #6, Dawson Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Montana list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from DCC make an average of $41,951 per year during the early years of their career.
Carroll College did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Montana ranking, coming in at #7.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Carroll Montana make an average of $61,772 per year during the early years of their career.
Montana State University - Billings did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Montana ranking, coming in at #8.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Montana State University - Billings go into careers with an average salary of $44,296 during the early years of their career.
Helena College University of Montana ranked #9 on this year’s Best Colleges in Montana list.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Helena College go into careers with an average salary of $40,738 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #10, Rocky Mountain College did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Montana list.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $49,036 during the early years of their career..
Flathead Valley Community College landed the #11 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Montana ranking.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Flathead Valley Community College make an average of $38,520 a year.
Montana State University - Northern landed the #12 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Montana ranking.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Montana State University - Northern is $49,505 during the early years of their career.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 12 schools only.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.