Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Montana
Ranked by graduate earnings
Montana State University - Northern, Carroll College and Montana Technological University are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Montana by graduate earnings. Montana State University - Northern leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $77,121, College Scorecard. Montana State University, Carroll College and Montana Technological University award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Montana: 280, 45 and 35 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 13 Montana colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 677 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 5 bachelor's programs, 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 - Northern Havre Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,121 | 30 | 41% | — | $29,971 |
| 2 | Carroll College Helena Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,007 | 45 | 69% | $21,440 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Montana Technological University Butte Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,338 | 35 | 58% | — | $35,839 |
| 4 | Montana State University Bozeman Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,915 | 280 | 57% | — | $28,000 |
| 5 | University of Providence Great Falls Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $101,187 | 75 | 28% | $20,500 | $23,847 |
Top 6 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana State University Billings Billings Public · Associate degree | $72,551 | 58 | 30% | — | $26,750 |
| 2 | The University of Montana Missoula Public · Associate degree | $67,743 | 44 | 48% | — | $34,743 |
| 3 | Miles Community College Miles City Public · Associate degree | $67,708 | 26 | 62% | — | $29,199 |
| 4 | Helena College University of Montana Helena Public · Associate degree | $63,902 | 28 | 33% | — | $29,692 |
| 5 | Flathead Valley Community College Kalispell Public · Associate degree | $71,348 | 20 | 29% | — | $21,187 |
| 6 | Salish Kootenai College Pablo Public · Associate degree Small program | $52,607 | 12 | 28% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Montana
Top 6 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 | Montana State University Bozeman Public | 280 | $71,915 |
| 2 | Carroll College Helena Private not-for-profit | 45 | $75,007 |
| 3 | Montana Technological University Butte Public | 35 | $74,338 |
| 4 | Montana State University - Northern Havre Public | 30 | $77,121 |
| 5 | Great Falls College Montana State University Great Falls Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 6 | Blackfeet Community College Browning Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 7 Montana colleges offering Registered Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Providence | Great Falls | Private not-for-profit | 75 |
| Montana State University Billings | Billings | Public | 58 |
| The University of Montana | Missoula | Public | 44 |
| Helena College University of Montana | Helena | Public | 28 |
| Miles Community College | Miles City | Public | 26 |
| Flathead Valley Community College | Kalispell | Public | 20 |
| Salish Kootenai College | Pablo | Public | 12 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Montana
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Montana.
Which Montana colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Montana State University (280 graduates a year), Carroll College (45 graduates a year) and Montana Technological University (35 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Montana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 13 Montana colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Montana?+
By graduate earnings, Montana State University - Northern leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Montana, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $77,121, College Scorecard. Carroll College and Montana Technological University follow. By degrees awarded, Montana State University is the largest, with 280 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Montana has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Montana State University - Northern tops the list at $77,121. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Montana?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Montana is $91,510 (median $85,280), across about 10,950 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree 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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