Top Schools

The highest-ranking colleges and universities in Montana in 2010, were:

1. Carroll College - located in Helena, it was ranked 37th in the nation
2. The University of Montana - located in Missoula, it was ranked 37th in the nation
3. Rocky Mountain College - located in Billings, it was ranked 44th in the nation

Programs Offered

Nearly 38.0% of Montana's 202,891 students are enrolled in one of the 239 bachelor's degree programs offered in the state. Another 18.8% of Montana students are enrolled in one of Montana's 118 master's or Ph.D. level programs. The remaining 43.2% of students are pursuing credentials from one of Montana's 272 certificate or associate's degree programs.

The most popular courses of study in Montana are:

1. Business - 8% of students graduated from business programs
2. Healthcare - 7% of students graduated from healthcare programs
3. Science - 5% of students graduated from science programs

Tuition

In 2011, in-state tuition at Montana schools cost an average of $4,698 per year. Tuition at individual schools varied from $2,190 per year to $23,594 per year. In 2011, the Montana schools charging the highest tuition were:

1. Carroll College - located in Helena, it charged students a tuition of $23,594 per year
2. Rocky Mountain College - located in Billings, it charged students a tuition of $21,100 per year
3. University of Great Falls - located in Great Falls, it charged students a tuition of $18,956 per year

The lowest tuition rates in Montana were charged at the following schools:

1. Blackfeet Community College - located in Browning, it charged students a tuition of $2,190 per year
2. Fort Peck Community College - located in Poplar, it charged students a tuition of $2,250 per year
3. Chief Dull Knife College - located in Lame Deer, it charged students a tuition of $2,260 per year

Financial Aid

Students in Montana received $142,267,497 in financial aid in 2008. Institutional grants and scholarships accounted for 69% of this aid. The Montana schools that provided the highest amount of institutional grants and scholarships to students were:

Montana Student Demographics

Montana schools have an average student population of 1,771 students, with 2 schools having a population of over 10,000 students each. In 2010, the Montana schools with the largest student population were:

1. The University of Montana - located in Missoula, it had 14,921 students
2. Montana State University - located in Bozeman, it had 12,348 students
3. Montana State University-Billings - located in Billings, it had 3,635 students

The Montana schools with the least number of students enrolled in 2010 were:

1. Dahls College of Beauty - located in Great Falls, it had 21 students
2. Health Works Institute - located in Bozeman, it had 32 students
3. Modern Beauty School Inc - located in Missoula, it had 40 students

Graduation Rates

In Montana, 16,890 students graduated from colleges and universities in 2010. The schools with the highest graduation rates in Montana in 2010 were:

1. Health Works Institute - located in Bozeman, it had a graduation rate of 100%
2. Academy of Nail Skin and Hair - located in Billings, it had a graduation rate of 99%
3. Dahls College of Beauty - located in Great Falls, it had a graduation rate of 97%

The graduation rates were lowest at the following Montana schools:

1. Stone Child College - located in Box Elder, it had a graduation rate of 5%
2. Fort Peck Community College - located in Poplar, it had a graduation rate of 7%
3. Little Big Horn College - located in Crow Agency, it had a graduation rate of 9%

Diversity

Colleges and universities in Montana do not have a diverse student population. In 2009, only an average of 25% of undergraduate students were from ethnically-diverse backgrounds. About 55% of undergraduates at Montana colleges and universities were female. Approximately 36% of Montana students were older than 24 years of age in 2009. The following Montana colleges and universities had the greatest percentage of minority students:

1. Little Big Horn College - located in Crow Agency, 97% of students were from minority backgrounds
2. Blackfeet Community College - located in Browning, 96% of students were from minority backgrounds
3. Stone Child College - located in Box Elder, 91% of students were from minority backgrounds

Montana Faculty Demographics

Just as the student population at Montana colleges and universities is not diverse, the faculty at Montana schools is not also diverse. In 2009, there were a total of 29,201 faculty members employed by Montana colleges and universities. Approximately 28% of them were from an ethnically-diverse background. The female to male ratio amongst Montana faculty was 1 to 1.

Faculty to Student Ratio

The average faculty to student ratio for all Montana schools was 1 to 2 in 2009. The schools with the largest number of faculty for each student in Montana were:

1. Stone Child College
2. Health Works Institute
3. Dahls College of Beauty