Why This Matters

  • 15 TWO-YEAR ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN MONTANA

    According to College Navigator, there are 15 two-year institutions that grant associate degrees in Montana.

  • $3,850 AVERAGE IN-DISTRICT TUITION & FEES

    Data from College Board shows that, during the 2020-21 school year, the average Montana student paid $3,850 in tuition and fees at public in-district community colleges.

  • 76.9% OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN TWO-YEAR PROGRAMS RECEIVED FINANCIAL AID

    During the 2018-19 school year, 437,899 students attending two-year institutions in the U.S. received a scholarship, grant, or similar form of financial aid.

Our Research

This list features some of the best community colleges in Montana. We focused on two-year programs from both public and private institutions, evaluating factors such as the cost of tuition, the minimum number of credits needed to graduate, and the coursework delivery format (i.e. online or on-campus).

To guarantee that each program provides a first-rate education, we focused solely on accredited institutions. The majority of these schools are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), a voluntary, non-profit organization that examines the integrity, achievements, and quality of post-secondary institutions. NWCCU is recognized by both the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

  • 22hours to write this article
  • 23universities and colleges we assessed
  • 57education programs we compared

The Top 50 Community Colleges in Montana

Best Community Colleges in Montana Badge
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What You Should Know About Graduating From Community College in Montana

As you prepare for community college, you should consider your career and salary goals. Data from May 2020 shows that the top five highest-paying careers for associate degree holders in Montana were funeral home managers, radiation therapists, air traffic controllers, nuclear medicine technologists, and dental hygienists.

Associate degree holders entering the workforce should also consider which careers are more open to hiring new graduates. The occupations projected to have the most annual job openings over the next decade in Montana are forest and conservation technicians, paralegals and legal assistants, preschool teachers (excluding special education), architectural and civil drafters, and dental hygienists.

While some careers are expected to rise, others are expected to decline. The occupations in Montana that require an associate degree and are projected to undergo a drop in employment are air traffic controllers, broadcast technicians, chemical technicians, electrical engineering technicians, and engineering technicians (excluding drafters).

What’s Next?

As you examine community colleges, keep in mind the financial aid opportunities available to you. To help associate degree students fund their education, we’ve put together a list of federal and state resources for grants and scholarships in Montana.

  • Montana Office of Public Instruction. The Montana Office of Public Instruction offers details about state tuition costs as well as information regarding the scholarships and loans that can be used to pay for tuition.
  • Federal Student Aid. Each year, the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid provides over $120 billion in financial aid. To see if you are eligible, simply visit the FAFSA4caster. Then, you can apply by filling out the online FAFSA form.
  • CareerOneStop. This resource, sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, facilitates access to scholarships, grants, and loans. Students can quickly find financial aid by filtering their search by degree level and state. The site also offers details about award amounts, qualifications, and deadlines.