Best colleges for Practical Nursing in Montana
Ranked by graduate earnings
Great Falls College Montana State University, Highlands College of Montana Tech and Montana State University Billings award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Montana: 17, 15 and 14 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 Montana colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 60 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana State University Billings Billings Public · Certificate Small program | $48,257 | 14 | 30% | — | $14,222 |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in Montana
Top 4 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Falls College Montana State University Great Falls Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 2 | Highlands College of Montana Tech Butte Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 3 | Montana State University Billings Billings Public | 14 | $48,257 |
| 4 | Helena College University of Montana Helena Public | 6 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 1 Montana colleges offering Practical Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead Valley Community College | Kalispell | Public | 8 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in Montana
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Montana.
Which Montana colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
Great Falls College Montana State University (17 graduates a year), Highlands College of Montana Tech (15 graduates a year) and Montana State University Billings (14 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Montana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 Montana colleges offer Practical Nursing.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Montana?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Montana is $43,160 (median $40,900), across about 4,390 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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