Best Community Colleges in Montana of 2023

Chief Dull Knife College is a tribal college initially chartered to serve the Northern Cheyenne. The original curriculum focused on mining. However, the certificate and degree programs have expanded, and associate degrees are offered in a number of fields. A.A. and A.S. degrees require two years of study and between 60-70 credit hours. Some degree programs are designed to transfer to the Montana University System so students can complete a four-year degree. Applied Science degrees are intended to prepare students to move directly into the workforce upon graduation, and the programs for business management and administrative assistants require 60 credit hours. Certificate programs call for 30-48 credit hours, depending on the program. The cost per credit hour is $70, and Chief Dull Knife has a financial aid office to support students.

With options from transfer degrees to workforce-ready programs, Miles Community College is prepared to support students in achieving their goals. Those looking to enter the job market can earn their CDL in six weeks or a CNA in five. Certificate programs move students rapidly into the workforce, while applied science programs take a little longer, typically two semesters, and build a strong foundation. Students looking to transfer to a Montana University or spend time studying general ed can earn an Associate of Arts or Science in their chosen field. MCC offers tracks that include Equine Studies, Livestock Management, Natural Resource & Range Management, Accounting, and Wildlife Fisheries & Biology. MCC is an excellent place for students who want to work outdoors.

Blackfeet College was chartered to provide the students of the Blackfeet Nation and surrounding communities with higher education. Since its inception, the school has developed certificate and degree programs that educate and elevate students. The nursing school offered RN degrees until they were able to grow into a BSN program in 2013. The culture of excellence prepares students to serve as culturally competent nurses. Because BCC offers classes using hybrid, online, and on-campus models, and students can participate in clinicals with a number of partner hospitals, the BSN program is available to students who aren’t able to live near the college full-time. Both the BSN and RN programs prepare students to take the NCLEX and work in rural and underserved communities.

Dawson Community College offers a number of academic and certificate tracks online, so students can grow their career options even while living in remote areas. Associate degrees in Science, Business Management, Early Childhood Education, Criminal Justice, and Chemical Dependency Counseling are available entirely online. Students completing their degrees are eligible to transfer to a four-year university. DCC also offers a number of certificate programs online. Accelerated programs are available in fifteen, ten, and six-week sessions. For students craving the traditional college experience, or those enrolled in hands-on degree tracks, DCC has on-campus housing, a rich student life, and on-the-job training with community partners.

Chartered by the Chippewa Cree Tribe, Stone Child College is a fully accredited school conferring bachelor of science degrees in teacher and elementary education, associates degrees, an applied science degree focused on Chippewa Cree art, and certificate programs in accounting, building trades, construction management, pre-engineering, pre-nursing, and rural public health. Offering degrees that are relevant to the region, the public health tracks at Stone Child stand out. The A.S. degree in rural public health takes two years and requires 63 credits. The certificate is a one-year and 34-credit-hour program. Additional endorsements are available in peer mentoring and historical trauma. Stone Child College excels at providing a relevant and nuanced education to the community it serves.

Serving the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, Fort Peck College is a tribally controlled community college established in 1978. Recognizing that educating native populations requires options for education in their communities, FPCC provides instruction in northeastern Montana that allows students to earn associate’s degrees, certificates, and vocational certificates. Tuition is $70 per credit hour. The Native American Studies program requires 61 credit hours and provides students the opportunity to learn the history, culture, and literature of the Fort Peck Tribes. An understanding of the continuing evolution of Native Culture prepares students to work in tribal leadership and law and to continue a tradition of leadership and growth. FPCC also has a native language department focused on the Nakonia or Dakota language.

As the tribal college of the Crow Tribe, Little Big Horn College offers A.A., A.S., and certificate programs. Possible courses of study include business administration, Crow studies, education, human services, information systems, mathematics, science, tribal management, agriculture, and highway construction. Serving around 300 students per semester, LBHC is a great school for individualized instruction. Because LBHC serves a tight-knit community, instructors are able to connect with students and take the time to help them flourish. Crow studies are a requirement for graduation, including a language study requirement. LBHC is fully accredited, and some degrees prepare students to transfer to a four-year university.

As one of the larger community colleges in Montana, Flathead Valley offers a traditional university experience with a community college price tag. Students can live on campus and participate in clubs, events, recreation, and athletics. Academic focuses are divided between transfer tracks, degree tracks, and certificate programs, so every student can find a program that suits their needs and goals. Fields of study are diverse, including firearms technologies, brewery tech, nursing, education, health sciences, goldsmithing, agriculture, and social media marketing. The possibilities at FVCC are diverse, and transfer agreements with a number of regional universities ensure that students can flourish.

Salish Kootenai College recognizes that the past few years have been financially challenging for many residents of rural communities, and they’ve established a 50% tuition waiver for all students during the 2022-2023 academic year. Their commitment to affordability and accessibility goes beyond their current efforts — SKC’s administration works hard to ensure scholarships are available to students in need and the financial aid department supports students as they navigate access. As a tribal college, SKC has four mission objectives: access and success, quality education, cultural perpetuation, and research and service. SKC offers workforce certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor degrees in business administration, culture and language studies, education, forestry, hydrology, life sciences, Native language teacher education, psychology, social work, tribal governance, tribal historic preservation, and wildlife and fisheries.

Located in Butte, Montana Tech is in the heart of some of the nation’s most outstanding wild areas. Hiking, fishing, and snow sports are all seasonally available within minutes of the school. Recognizing that the outdoors is a draw for students and that equipment is often a barrier to access, Montana Tech has a large inventory of outdoor gear available for students to use. Montana Tech offers a number of degree and certificate tracks, and many are focused on industry and science. The Mining programs are second to none, and the geoscience tracks have students out in the field learning with hands-on time spent in Montana’s complex geologic and industrial spaces. The outdoor recreation at MTU is excellent, and the school can also connect the outdoors to academic tracks.