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Most affordable public universities in Montana

9 public universities in Montana report net price data, ranging from $6,359 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $13,252. Montana's public universities run a bit higher than the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.

Median net price in Montana

$13,252

National median for public universities

$10,692

public universities reporting in Montana

9

The most affordable public universities in Montana, ranked by net price

1

Stone Child College

MT

Net price

$6,359

Receive grant aid

83%

2

Salish Kootenai College

MT

Net price

$9,551

Receive grant aid

73%

3

Aaniiih Nakoda College

MT

Net price

$10,527

Receive grant aid

96%

4

Montana State University-Northern

MT

Net price

$11,789

Receive grant aid

85%

5

Montana State University Billings

MT

Net price

$13,252

Receive grant aid

80%

6

The University of Montana-Western

MT

Net price

$15,726

Receive grant aid

62%

7

Montana Technological University

MT

Net price

$15,866

Receive grant aid

80%

8

The University of Montana

MT

Net price

$17,775

Receive grant aid

87%

9

Montana State University

MT

Net price

$18,511

Receive grant aid

85%

What makes a school affordable here

In Montana, the most affordable public universities share two things in common. First, low published net prices reflect both reasonable sticker prices and meaningful institutional or state aid. Second, a high share of students receive grant aid. At Stone Child College, the most affordable on this list, 83% of students receive grant aid. Net price reflects what a typical family actually pays, not the sticker price you see at first glance. A school with a $50,000 sticker price and a $10,000 net price is more affordable for most families than a school with a $20,000 sticker and a $19,000 net price.

Affordable colleges in Montana, other types

Affordable public universities in other states

Find your personalized cost

National rankings use publicly available federal cost data. Plug in your actual aid offer and family situation for a Worth-It Score that reflects your specific picture.

Affordability rankings use publicly available federal higher-ed cost data. Net price reflects the average cost a family pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total cost of attendance, for the 2022-23 reporting year. See full methodology →