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Montana is known to many as the ‘Big Sky Country’ with vast expanses and geographical diversity from the eastern to western swaths of the state. It is the seventh least populated state yet the 4thlargest by land mass. The state of Montana has around 30 accredited colleges and universities plus handful of high -powered public colleges for students to consider as part of their academic future. Public colleges in Montana include Montana State University (Bozeman, Billings, Havre), the University of Montana (Missoula, Dillon), and Montana Tech. To learn more about each schools enrollment trends, financial aid, tuition, student to teach ratios, campus life, and educational programs you can simply connect with the schools below. Collecting information from state colleges in Montana is a snap with MatchCollege. Simply request information from any number of accredited state college to receive an admission packet from your top choices before moving the process forward to the application stage. You can also quickly sort the remaining Montana schools by geographic region, degree levels, school type, city, and degree program with our proprietarysearchtools today. Find your perfect college match today by establishing your personal priorities, vocational goals, and professional aspirations before starting your college search. Leverage our acclaimedeBooktitled the Complete Guide to the College Admissions Process to learn more about the entire process from the experts.
2025 Best Public Colleges in Montana
MSU provides a variety of program options for students to aid them in their growth and development. The school is located in Bozeman, Montana and publically funded. As a land grant institution this school is among larger public institutions in the state of Montana. Approximately 13,000 students are enrolled annually at MSU.
A list of some of the more popular programs offered are:
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Health And Clinical Professions
- Family And Consumer Sciences
- Education
- Architecture
To be considered for admissions, you may be required to complete an application, write a personal statement, and submit test scores or other school records, which are then evaluated by the admissions office. The majority of students admitted to MSU earn an SAT score between 1470 - 1840, or an ACT score between 21 - 28. Roughly 60% of all applicant were accepted at Montana State University, with 45% of those accepted choosing to enroll. More information on admissions can be found at montana.edu.
The cost of undergraduate tuition is different for in-state and nonresidents. In-state residents pay around $7,100 and nonresidents pay $21,000 per year. Financial aid may be offered to students that meet the necessary requirements in the form of loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs.
The Montana State University Bobcats participate in a number of intercollegiate athletic programs, overseen by the NCAA. Available athletic programs offered may include but not limited to:
- Basketball (NCAA Division I-AA)
- Track & Field (NCAA Division I-AA)
- Football (NCAA Division I-AA)
- Golf (NCAA Division I-AA)
Students should visit the Montana State University website to obtain a complete list of areas of study, programs, student services, and more that is available at this school.
Enrollment
16,814
Student to Faculty Ratio
19:1
Montana Tech of the University of Montana is a public institution located in Butte, MT and provides a large number of educational opportunities for students. Around two thousand students enroll at Montana Tech of the University of Montana yearly.
Students can choose from several areas of study, including but not limited to:
- Engineering
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Health And Clinical Professions
- Biological And Biomedical Sciences
- Liberal Arts And Sciences
The admissions process begins with the submission of an application, student records, and standardized test scores, which are then evaluated by admissions officials. Students may take either the ACT or SAT exam scores to be considered for admissions at this school. A score within the range of 1440 to 1770 on the SAT, or 21 to 26 for the ACT is usually submitted among admitted students. Approximately 90% of all students that applied were accepted at this school, with 60% of those admitted choosing to attend. More information regarding admissions can be found here.
The cost of undergraduate tuition varies for in-state and nonresidents. In-state residents pay close to $7,100 and nonresidents pay $20,000 annually. Housing may be available for students that would like to live on-campus for around a cost of $3,600 annually. Financial aid may be offered to students that meet the required requirements by way of grants or student loans.
The mascot for Montana Tech of the University of Montana is the "Orediggers", and they participate in intercollegiate sports through the NAIA. Athletic programs available:
- Basketball (NAIA Division I)
- Football (NAIA Division I)
- Golf (NAIA Division I)
Students who would like to see more about this school may take a look at their website at http://www.mtech.edu.
Enrollment
1,844
Student to Faculty Ratio
13:1
History
The University of Montana – Western is located in Dillon, Montana. University of Montana Western was founded in 1894. Originally known as the Montana State Normal School, and later as Western Montana College, the name was changed to its current form when the school joined the University of Montana System.
Academics
UMW is the only public institution in the United States to offer Experience One model where a term is broken into four parts of 18 days each. Each part focuses on a single subject. This method has proved successful for UMW, whose students have shown above average results. UMW offers many four year degree programs in a variety of subjects.
Some programs are:
Admissions and Financial Aid
Students interested in enrolling at UMW must meet one of the following three requirements:
An ACT score of 22 or an SAT score of 1540
A cumulative GPA of 2.5
Rank in the top 50% of the graduating class
Students who meet one of the above requirements must then submit a completed application along with the fee, send a high school transcript (once high school is completed), complete a high school self report form, submit form showing immunizations and a transcript of either the ACT or SAT exam.
Students may receive financial aid. All students pursuing financial aid are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The school code for UMW should placed in the application. The code is 002537.
Athletics
The University of Montana West athletics teams, known as the Bulldogs, participate in the Frontier Conference, which is an affiliate National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Sport programs offered:
- Football
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Rodeo
- Equestrian
Enrollment
1,508
Student to Faculty Ratio
17:1
UM is a public university that has a large selection of majors and degree programs available for students to choose from. The school is located in Missoula, Montana, in a predominantly urban area. Approximately sixteen thousand students enroll at UM yearly. Here is a list of some of the popular programs UM offers:
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Psychology
- Health And Clinical Professions
- Education
- English Language And Literature
- Basketball (NCAA Division I-AA)
- Track & Field (NCAA Division I-AA)
- Football (NCAA Division I-AA)
- Golf (NCAA Division I-AA)
Enrollment
10,962
Student to Faculty Ratio
16:1
Montana State University - Northern, a public institution, offers an assortment of degree programs, allowing students to choose which major is right for them. Located in Havre, MT, the school offers a rural setting for students to study in. Approximately a thousand students are enrolled per year at Montana State University - Northern. A list of some of the more popular programs offered are:
- Health And Clinical Professions
- Mechanic And Repair Technology
- Education
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Engineering
- Construction Trades
- Basketball (NAIA Division I)
- Football (NAIA Division I)
- Golf (NAIA Division I)
- Volleyball (NAIA Division I)
Enrollment
1,090
Student to Faculty Ratio
15:1
Montana State University (MSU) Billings was founded in 1927 and it upholds the traditions of the university to provide access to education, excellent teaching, civic engagement and community enhancement.
The university is located on 110 acres of land that resemble a beautiful park and is home to more than 5,000 students. There are 3 campuses spread out through the city and it has a long record of supporting the local community.
MSU Billings offers Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees in a range of different subjects that include arts, sciences, health, business, education, mathematics, music and more.
The cost to study at MSU Billings is $12,592 for 2013-2014 academic year and this includes tuition, board, books and other educational supplies.
For students that are interested in sports, MSU Billings is a member of the NCAA II and competes in a range of sports including: basketball, gold, soccer, tennis, baseball and more.
MSU Billings also has a number of different student services including financial aid, career advice and more. Moreover, the university places a strong emphasis on student safety. There are 7 police officers that handle public safety at the university and the school really places safety as one of its highest priorities.
Montana State University also offers online courses for those that want to add flexibility to their studies and want to study at their own convenience.
Enrollment
4,315
Student to Faculty Ratio
14:1
-2
The 2 schools listed below are part of the -2 system. By following the links below, you can view each school's profile in detail.
Montana State University in Butte, MT

Visit the website for Montana State University at http://www.montana.edu/
Program Details
- 1,000 to 4,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Tuition & fees $8,000 per year for state residents ($27,000 Nonresidents)
The University of Montana - Western (Western Montana College) in Pablo, MT

Visit the website for The University of Montana - Western at http://w.umwestern.edu/
Program Details
- Less Than 1,000 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Tuition & fees $6,000 per year for state residents ($18,000 Nonresidents)
Montana University System
The 4 schools listed below are part of the Montana University System. By following the links below, you can view each school's profile in detail.
Flathead Valley Community College (MSU Billings) in Billings, MT

Visit the website for Flathead Valley Community College at http://www.fvcc.edu
Program Details
- 1,000 to 4,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Tuition & fees $7,000 per year for state residents ($13,000 Nonresidents)
Montana State University - Northern (University of Montana) in Missoula, MT

Visit the website for Montana State University - Northern at http://www.msun.edu
Program Details
- 10,000 to 19,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Tuition & fees $6,000 per year for state residents ($20,000 Nonresidents)
Rocky Mountain College (RMC) in Havre, MT

Visit the website for Rocky Mountain College at http://www.rocky.edu
Program Details
- 1,000 to 4,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Tuition & fees $31,000 per year
The University of Montana in Bozeman, MT

Visit the website for The University of Montana at http://www.umt.edu
Program Details
- 10,000 to 19,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Tuition & fees $8,000 per year for state residents ($28,000 Nonresidents)
Notes: Tuition & fee amounts are for both Montana in-state residents and out of state students, unless noted otherwise. The tuition information displayed is an estimate, which we calculated based on historical data and should be solely used for informational purposes only. Please contact the respective school for information about the current school year.
Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.