The Cheapest Colleges in Montana by Out of State Total Cost for 2023
If you're looking for an affordable university in Montana but aren't a state resident, these are the least expensive out of state colleges to consider. Additionally, if you are a foreign citizen and cannot qualify for in-state tuition, these are the cheapest universities in Montana for international students.
Affordable doesn't simply mean finding a school with a low published out of state total cost. It's important to research the typical financial aid package offered by a school, the average net price actually paid and most importantly the quality of education you receive for your tuition dollar. Sometimes a school which appears cheap based on list price can be a poor relative value if it can't award competitive financial aid or doesn't offer a quality education. The list below is a ranking on published out of state total cost with no consideration of actual average price paid or academic quality of the school. Please see the CollegeCalc best value colleges in Montana list for a ranking which considers school quality and average net price.
Total cost may factor in an estimated off-campus living expense if a school doens't provide housing. This estimate may vary widely by college. To view a rank by academic fees alone please see our Montana tuition ranking.
The most affordable four year colleges in Montana are listed by one year's out of state total cost list price for the 2021/2022 school year. Total cost includes tuition, room and board or estimated off campus living expenses, books and supplies and other fees.
What is the cheapest college in Montana? Leading the colleges list is Salish Kootenai College in Pablo with an out of state total cost of $20,103.
Academic Rating is a CollegeCalc rating of a college's overall academics and effectiveness. The score ranges from zero to one hundred, with fifty being the median for all eligible colleges. Dollar value is a measure of a school's academic rating compared with the average price paid by students. Colleges which are ranked "n/a" didn't report sufficient data to formulate a score. Learn more about our rating methodology.
All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's 2021/2022 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2021/2022 academic year.
| College | Out of State Total Cost | Rating | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
#1 Salish Kootenai CollegePablo, Private Not For Profit |
$20,103 | NA | NA |
#2 The University of Montana WesternDillon, Public Not For Profit |
$26,320 | 35 | 45 |
#3 Montana State University NorthernHavre, Public Not For Profit |
$26,425 | NA | NA |
#4 Montana State University BillingsBillings, Public Not For Profit |
$28,711 | NA | NA |
#5 Montana Tech of the University of MontanaButte, Public Not For Profit |
$34,462 | 55 | 50 |
#6 University of Great FallsGreat Falls, Private Not For Profit |
$37,558 | NA | NA |
#7 Montana State UniversityBozeman, Public Not For Profit |
$39,810 | 52 | 40 |
#8 The University of MontanaMissoula, Public Not For Profit |
$40,346 | 49 | 32 |
#9 Rocky Mountain CollegeBillings, Private Not For Profit |
$41,490 | 47 | 49 |
#10 Carroll CollegeHelena, Private Not For Profit |
$49,322 | 56 | 68 |