Best colleges in Montana
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in Montana10 schools
10 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Montana.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
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Salish Kootenai College
Pablo, MT · PublicTop 10% for low net price
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 28% graduate
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Montana State University-Northern
Havre, MT · PublicTop 24% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 41% graduate
- 8
University of Providence
Great Falls, MT · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Value grade B · Top 41%
- 28% graduate
- 9
Rocky Mountain College
Billings, MT · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Value grade B-
- 48% graduate
- 10
Montana State University Billings
Billings, MT · PublicSolid: Compass grade C+
- Value grade B · Top 43%
- 30% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll College | $23,960 | $25,757 | $61,772 | 69% |
| Salish Kootenai College | $7,945 | $12,923 | $32,725 | 28% |
| Montana Technological University | $16,481 | $18,750 | $54,329 | 58% |
| Montana State University | $22,499 | $22,500 | $53,263 | 57% |
| The University of Montana | $16,784 | $22,400 | $44,511 | 48% |
| The University of Montana-Western | $16,558 | $21,000 | $43,229 | 51% |
| Montana State University-Northern | $12,664 | $18,500 | $49,505 | 41% |
| University of Providence | $17,649 | $18,750 | $48,296 | 28% |
| Rocky Mountain College | $19,751 | $26,000 | $49,036 | 48% |
| Montana State University Billings | $16,524 | $18,209 | $44,296 | 30% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3