2024 Average Tuition, Fees, and Living Costs in Montana State

The average tuition & fees of Montana colleges is $6,040 for Montana residents and $13,302 for students from other States. Carroll College has the highest (most expensive) tuition & fees of $40,352 and Aaniiih Nakoda College has the lowest tuition & fees (cheapest) of $3,600.

For graduate programs, Rocky Mountain College has the highest (most expensive) graduate tuition & fees of $33,252 and The University of Montana-Western has the lowest graduate tuition & fees (cheapest) of $19,038 in Montana.

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2024 Costs of Attendance (COA)

The average COA of Montana 4-year colleges in 2024 is $22,131 for Montana residents and $33,448 for students from other states. The COA includes tuition & fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other living expenses, but it excludes health insurance fee and uncommon expenses.

Table

Table. 2024 Average Costs of Attendance for Montana Colleges (4-Years)
	Undergraduate		Graduate
	In-State	Out-of-State	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition & Fees	$7,156	$18,472	$7,212	$18,970
Books & Supplies	$1,244		$1,244
Room & Board	$13,732		$13,732
COA	$22,131	$33,448	$22,187	$33,945

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Montana Best Colleges

Montana State University

The University of Montana

Montana State University Billings

Undergraduate Tuition & Fees

In Montana, 30 schools offer undergraduate programs. The average undergraduate tuition & fees of Montana colleges is $6,040 for Montana residents and $13,302 for out-of-state students for the academic year 2023-2024.

The Montana tuition & fees have risen 7.05% from last year (4 years colleges). The following table and chart describe the 2024 undergraduate tuition & fees trends over last 5 years in 4-years and 2-4 years (community colleges) colleges.

Table

Table. 2024 Average Undergraduate Tuition & Fees for Montana Universities and Colleges
	Public Schools				Private Schools
	4 Years or High		2-4 Years		4 Years or High	2-4 Years
	In-State	Out-of-State	In-State	Out-of-State	4 Years or High	2-4 Years
2020	$5,686	$16,268	$3,955	$8,134	$20,654	-
2021	$5,704	$16,527	$4,036	$8,261	$21,384	-
2022	$5,725	$16,788	$4,069	$8,467	$21,828	-
2023	$5,828	$17,256	$4,168	$8,706	$22,517	-
2024	$7,156	$18,472	$5,065	$9,071	$23,966	-

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Expensive Montana Colleges (Highest Undergraduate Tuition)

Carroll College	$40,352
Rocky Mountain College	$33,252
The University of Montana	$31,622
Montana State University	$31,337
University of Providence	$29,018

Inexpensive Montana Colleges (Lowest Undergraduate Tuition)

Aaniiih Nakoda College	$3,600
Blackfeet Community College	$3,610
Stone Child College	$3,610
Salish Kootenai College	$11,583
Montana Bible College	$13,600

Based on out-of-state tuition rates of 4 years (or high) colleges

Graduate Program Tuition & Fees

9 Montana colleges offer graduate programs. The average graduate program tuition fees of Montana colleges is $7,212 for Montana residents and $18,970 for students from other States. The graduate tuition & fees rose 94.46% from last year.

The following table and chart describe the 2024 graduate tuition & fees and show last 5 years' tuition change.

Table

Table. 2024 Average Graduate Tuition & Fees for Montana Universities and Colleges
	Public Schools		Private Schools
	In-State	Out-of-State	Private Schools
2020	$6,703	$20,480	$20,293
2021	$6,805	$20,923	$26,680
2022	$6,896	$19,944	$25,785
2023	$6,791	$20,083	$24,439
2024	$7,212	$18,970	$24,897

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Expensive Graduate Schools in Montana

Rocky Mountain College	$35,635
The University of Montana	$35,314
Montana State University	$24,863
University of Providence	$24,237
Montana State University Billings	$23,781

Inexpensive Graduate Schools in Montana

The University of Montana-Western	$1,930
Salish Kootenai College	$5,376
Carroll College	$14,818
Montana State University-Northern	$20,255
Montana Technological University	$21,270

Based on out-of-state tuition rates of 4 years (or high) colleges

2024 Books & Supplies Costs

The average books & supplies costs of Montana colleges in 2024 is $1,244. The books & supplies costs rose 102.41% from last year. Next table and chart describes the 2024 books & supplies costs and costs changes over last 5 years

Table

Table. 2024 Average Books & Supplies Costs for Montana Universities and Colleges
	Books & Supplies
2020	$1,200
2021	$1,202
2022	$1,181
2023	$1,214
2024	$1,244

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2024 Average Living Costs

The average living costs of Montana colleges in 2024 is $13,732 when a student lives on campus such as dormitory and college apartment and $13,940 living off campus. 14 schools have on-campus living facilities in Montana State. The on-campus living costs rose 107.95% and off-campus costs rose 101.88% from last year. Next table and chart describes the 2024 living costs and compares to last 5 years.

Table

Table. 2024 Average Living Costs for Montana Universities and Colleges
	On-Campus	Off-Campus
2020	$12,007	$12,700
2021	$11,856	$12,875
2022	$12,107	$13,090
2023	$12,721	$13,683
2024	$13,732	$13,940

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Most Searched Montana Colleges (last 30 days)

Undergraduate

Montana State University Public, four-years | Bozeman
The University of Montana Public, four-years | Missoula
Salish Kootenai College Public, four-years | Pablo
Rocky Mountain College Private, four-years | Billings
Carroll College Private, four-years | Helena
Blackfeet Community College Private, four-years | Browning
University of Providence Private, four-years | Great Falls
Montana Technological University Public, four-years | Butte
Little Big Horn College Public, 2-4 years | Crow Agency
Montana Bible College Private, four-years | Bozeman

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Graduate

The University of Montana Public, four-years | Missoula
University of Providence Private, four-years | Great Falls
Montana State University Public, four-years | Bozeman
Salish Kootenai College Public, four-years | Pablo
Carroll College Private, four-years | Helena
Montana Technological University Public, four-years | Butte
Rocky Mountain College Private, four-years | Billings
Montana State University Billings Public, four-years | Billings
Montana State University-Northern Public, four-years | Havre
Bitterroot School of Cosmetology Private, Less than 2-years | Hamilton

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Online Schools

Helena College University of Montana Public, 2-4 years | Helena
The University of Montana Public, four-years | Missoula
Chief Dull Knife College Public, 2-4 years | Lame Deer
Carroll College Private, four-years | Helena
Miles Community College Public, 2-4 years | Miles City
Blackfeet Community College Private, four-years | Browning
University of Providence Private, four-years | Great Falls
Rocky Mountain College Private, four-years | Billings
Fort Peck Community College Public, 2-4 years | Poplar
Montana Technological University Public, four-years | Butte

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Technical Colleges

Crevier's Academy of Cosmetology Arts Private, Less than 2-years | Kalispell
Montana Academy of Salons Private, Less than 2-years | Great Falls
Academy of Cosmetology Inc Private, Less than 2-years | Bozeman
Bitterroot School of Cosmetology Private, Less than 2-years | Hamilton
Butte Academy of Beauty Culture Private, Less than 2-years | Butte
Health Works Institute Private, Less than 2-years | Bozeman
Pima Medical Institute-Dillon Private, 2-4 years | Dillon
Salish Kootenai College Public, four-years | Pablo
The University of Montana Public, four-years | Missoula
Carroll College Private, four-years | Helena

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