Best Online Colleges in Montana

TBS Staff Writers
By
Updated on October 18, 2023
Get started with your search for top-ranked schools in Montana. Discover which colleges offer programs that fit your needs.

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When researching online colleges in Montana, you will find a vast array of digital resources at your disposal.

Within the Montana University System, 16 schools enroll 46,000 students and offer online and hybrid degree formats tailored to fit student needs. Montana’s largest industries include agriculture, travel and tourism, timber, and mining. As such, distance learners can earn degrees in programs like agricultural education, land resources and environmental science, wilderness management, horsemanship, and diesel technology. More traditional programs, such as degrees in business administration, communications, public relations, accounting, human resource management, and mathematics, may also be completed at online schools in Montana.

Montana maintains membership with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, a resource–sharing education system from which students at all levels benefit both financially and academically. The state also houses the Montana Higher Education Consortium, which creates professional development, networking, and collaboration opportunities for faculty at all Montana universities and colleges. This organization promotes high educational and teaching standards, cutting–edge research, and quality programs for students. Additionally, Montana offers competitively low tuition rates. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in–state and out–of–state tuition in Montana remain 27% and 18% cheaper, respectively, than the national average.

For distance learners, online courses at colleges in Montana offer more scheduling flexibility than traditional on–campus programs. Both part– and full–time online programs can help students earn their degrees while maintaining jobs, familial obligations, and other daily commitments.

The Best Online Colleges in Montana

#1 Best Online Colleges in Montana

Montana State University Billings

  • Location-markerBillings, MT
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$4,485
  • Out-of-state$17,678
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$5,598
  • Out-of-state$18,611
  • Retention Rate62%
  • Acceptance RateN/A
  • Students Enrolled4,416
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment60%
  • AccreditationYes
#2 Best Online Colleges in Montana

The University of Montana

  • Location-markerMissoula, MT
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$5,352
  • Out-of-state$24,144
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$4,716
  • Out-of-state$20,064
  • Retention Rate71%
  • Acceptance Rate94%
  • Students Enrolled10,487
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment29%
  • AccreditationYes
#3 Best Online Colleges in Montana

Montana State University

  • Location-markerBozeman, MT
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$5,654
  • Out-of-state$23,890
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$5,089
  • Out-of-state$18,765
  • Retention Rate77%
  • Acceptance Rate82%
  • Students Enrolled16,692
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment13%
  • AccreditationYes
#4 Best Online Colleges in Montana

Montana State University-Northern

  • Location-markerHavre, MT
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$4,496
  • Out-of-state$17,096
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$5,742
  • Out-of-state$18,686
  • Retention Rate55%
  • Acceptance RateN/A
  • Students Enrolled1,073
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment59%
  • AccreditationYes
#5 Best Online Colleges in Montana

University of Providence

  • Location-markerGreat Falls, MT
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$25,692
  • Out-of-state$25,692
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$14,000
  • Out-of-state$14,000
  • Retention Rate58%
  • Acceptance Rate55%
  • Students Enrolled998
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment55%
  • AccreditationYes

Best Online Colleges

Montana

2023


The Best Schools

Online Colleges in Montana Ranking Guidelines

We selected the online schools in Montana based on the quality of their programs, types of courses and degrees offered, and faculty strengths, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation, including a strong reputation for online degree programs.