2026 Best Nursing Schools in Montana
Looking for the best Nursing degree programs in Montana? This list ranks 29 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Nursing Degree Search reviewed 20 schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Nursing Degree Schools in Montana
Explore the leading schools below:
University Of Great Falls earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in Montana. This private not-for-profit school is set in Great Falls, MT. Roughly 21% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $30,448. University Of Great Falls Nursing students take on a median of $23,847 in debt. Get the full University Of Great Falls report
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You'll be in good company at Carroll College, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Helena, MT, Carroll College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $41,484. Carroll College Nursing students take on a median of $24,912 in debt. Read the full report on Carroll College
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Montana State University came in at #3 on this year's Nursing ranking in Montana. Based in Bozeman, MT, Montana State University is a public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. The median Nursing program debt is $23,635. Read more about Montana State University
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The strong Nursing programs at Miles Community College earned it the #4 place in Montana. This public school is set in Miles City, MT. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,500, with out-of-state students paying around $11,220. Students borrow a median of $20,574 to complete their Nursing program here. More on Miles Community College
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You'll be in good company at Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana, which ranked #5 this year. Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a public school based in Butte, MT. About 58% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,289, compared with $26,094 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,962 in student loans. See the full Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana profile
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Montana State University Billings landed the #6 spot in Montana this year. Set in Billings, MT, Montana State University Billings is a public institution. Montana State University Billings posts a six-year graduation rate of 34%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,280, with out-of-state students paying around $22,897. Students borrow a median of $25,465 to complete their Nursing program here. Get the full Montana State University Billings report
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The University Of Montana landed the #7 spot in Montana this year. Located in Missoula, MT, The University Of Montana is a public institution. The University Of Montana graduates 49% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,552, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Students borrow a median of $24,342 to complete their Nursing program here. Read more about The University Of Montana
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Montana State University Northern ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Located in Havre, MT, Montana State University Northern is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 30%. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,982, compared with $21,875 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,855 in student loans. See the full Montana State University Northern profile
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Helena College University Of Montana ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Based in Helena, MT, Helena College University Of Montana is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,106, compared with $11,278 for out-of-state students. The median Nursing program debt is $19,906. Read more about Helena College University Of Montana
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Flathead Valley Community College did well this year, earning the #10 position. Flathead Valley Community College is a public school based in Kalispell, MT. Students from in state pay about $4,912 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,659. Graduates carry a median of $16,094 in student loans. More on Flathead Valley Community College
Request InformationDawson Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read more about Dawson Community College
Request InformationBlackfeet Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read more about Blackfeet Community College
Request InformationMontana Bible College landed the #13 spot in Montana this year. Get the full Montana Bible College report
Request InformationGreat Falls College Montana State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read more about Great Falls College Montana State University
Request InformationAaniiih Nakoda College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Get the full Aaniiih Nakoda College report
Request InformationMontana Academy Of Salons landed the #16 spot in Montana this year. See the full Montana Academy Of Salons profile
Request InformationRocky Mountain College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. More on Rocky Mountain College
Request InformationSalish Kootenai College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Read more about Salish Kootenai College
Request InformationAcademy Of Cosmetology Bozeman came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Get the full Academy Of Cosmetology Bozeman report
Request InformationLittle Big Horn College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. See the full Little Big Horn College profile
Request InformationButte Academy Of Beauty Culture ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. More on Butte Academy Of Beauty Culture
Request InformationStone Child College landed the #22 spot in Montana this year. Get the full Stone Child College report
Request InformationThe University Of Montana Western placed #23 among Nursing schools in Montana. See the full The University Of Montana Western profile
Request InformationHighlands College Of Montana Tech did well this year, earning the #24 position. More on Highlands College Of Montana Tech
Request InformationCreviers Academy Of Cosmetology Arts landed the #25 spot in Montana this year. Get the full Creviers Academy Of Cosmetology Arts report
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Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Aveda Institute Montana came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Aveda Institute Montana
Request InformationChief Dull Knife College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. More on Chief Dull Knife College
Request InformationFort Peck Community College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. See the full Fort Peck Community College profile
Request InformationPima Medical Institute Dillon ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. More on Pima Medical Institute Dillon
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Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Nursing Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 20 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 29 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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