2026 Best Value Nursing Schools in Montana
Looking for the best-value Nursing degree programs in Montana? This list ranks 29 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Nursing Degree Search reviewed 10 schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Nursing Degree Schools in Montana
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Helena College University Of Montana earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in Montana. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,738 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Helena College University Of Montana
Out of the 10 schools in Montana in this year's value ranking, Miles Community College landed the #2 spot. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,862. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Miles Community College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Montana State University Billings earned it the #3 place in Montana. Set in Billings, MT, Montana State University Billings is a public institution. 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. Montana State University Billings alumni report median earnings of $44,296 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Montana State University Billings report
Out of the 10 schools in Montana in this year's value ranking, Montana State University Northern landed the #4 spot. Located in Havre, MT, Montana State University Northern is a public institution. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $49,505. Set against $23,855 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Montana State University Northern profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Montana State University earned it the #5 place in Montana. Based in Bozeman, MT, Montana State University is a public institution. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $53,263. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Montana State University has an acceptance rate of 82%. Read more about Montana State University
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana placed #6 among the best-value Nursing schools in Montana. Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a public school based in Butte, MT. 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. Median earnings reach $54,329 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $23,962 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted. See the full Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana profile
The University Of Montana came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Located in Missoula, MT, The University Of Montana is a public institution. 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. Median earnings reach $44,511 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $24,342 median debt. The University Of Montana has an acceptance rate of 96%. Read more about The University Of Montana
Flathead Valley Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. 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. Flathead Valley Community College alumni report median earnings of $38,520 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $16,094 median debt. More on Flathead Valley Community College
University Of Great Falls ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Great Falls, MT. In-state tuition and fees average $30,448. University Of Great Falls Nursing students take on a median of $23,847 in debt. Median earnings reach $48,296 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $23,847 median debt. University Of Great Falls has an acceptance rate of 50%. Get the full University Of Great Falls report
Carroll College landed the #10 spot for value in Montana this year. Located in Helena, MT, Carroll College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $41,484. Carroll College Nursing students take on a median of $24,912 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,772 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,912 median debt. Carroll College has an acceptance rate of 71%. Read the full report on Carroll College
Highlands College Of Montana Tech placed #11 among the best-value Nursing schools in Montana. More on Highlands College Of Montana Tech
Aaniiih Nakoda College offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Get the full Aaniiih Nakoda College report
Fort Peck Community College landed the #13 spot for value in Montana this year. See the full Fort Peck Community College profile
Aveda Institute Montana offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Read the full report on Aveda Institute Montana
Montana Bible College placed #15 among the best-value Nursing schools in Montana. Get the full Montana Bible College report
Stone Child College landed the #16 spot for value in Montana this year. Get the full Stone Child College report
Salish Kootenai College offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read more about Salish Kootenai College
Dawson Community College placed #18 among the best-value Nursing schools in Montana. Read more about Dawson Community College
Chief Dull Knife College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. More on Chief Dull Knife College
Pima Medical Institute Dillon came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. More on Pima Medical Institute Dillon
Creviers Academy Of Cosmetology Arts landed the #21 spot for value in Montana this year. Get the full Creviers Academy Of Cosmetology Arts report
Butte Academy Of Beauty Culture placed #22 among the best-value Nursing schools in Montana. More on Butte Academy Of Beauty Culture
The University Of Montana Western placed #23 among the best-value Nursing schools in Montana. See the full The University Of Montana Western profile
Blackfeet Community College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Blackfeet Community College
Rocky Mountain College offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. More on Rocky Mountain College
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Nursing Degree Schools in Montana
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Montana Academy Of Salons landed the #26 spot for value in Montana this year. See the full Montana Academy Of Salons profile
Academy Of Cosmetology Bozeman came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Academy Of Cosmetology Bozeman report
Little Big Horn College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. See the full Little Big Horn College profile
Great Falls College Montana State University offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read more about Great Falls College Montana State University
More Nursing Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Nursing Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 10 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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