Which Montana nursing school fits best when pre-licensure RN programs are scattered across roughly 147,000 square miles? The campus you pick largely determines which hospitals, rural clinics, and long-term care sites host your nursing school clinical hours.
The schools here are ordered mainly by first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates and include two-year ASN/ADN and four-year BSN programs. Some placements may surprise you: the University of Montana offers its RN pathway at the associate level, through Missoula College.
Pass rates are a starting point. In a small state, the real constraint is a seat in a capped clinical cohort.
Top NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: Montana's 10 Leading Nursing Programs Ranked
Passing the licensing exam on the first attempt is the clearest public signal that a nursing program has actually prepared someone to practice, and it is the thread running through this list of Montana's leading pre-licensure programs. Every entry below is a state-approved associate or bachelor's pathway whose graduates sit for the registered nurse exam, not the practical nurse exam. Keep one caveat in mind as you read: a program that tests 20 people in a year can swing sharply, so a single year rarely tells the whole story.
How we ranked these
- Institution-wide graduation rates
- Program completion and retention rates
- First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates
- National nursing accreditation status
- Original research on individual programs
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
- Program-level NCLEX pass rates from the state boards of nursing — ncsbn.org
- College Scorecard post-completion earnings data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- In-house program catalog data
Montana Technological University
#1Butte, MT · ~$16,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 98.6% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: High-achieving Montana high school seniors
This four-year BSN pairs an unusually heavy clinical load with a young, well-equipped program: nearly 1,000 hours at more than 35 partner facilities across southwest Montana, plus a simulation center holding a Core Four Standards endorsement. Montana high school seniors with a 3.5 GPA or better can claim a seat early through the Nursing Scholar's Edge direct entry option. First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates sit at 98.6 percent across the board's most recent three reporting years, and about 58 percent of undergraduates finish a degree institution-wide.
- CCNE accredited four-year BSN
- Nursing Scholar's Edge direct entry with a 3.5 GPA minimum
- Nearly 1,000 clinical hours across more than 35 partner facilities
- High-fidelity simulation center with Core Four Standards endorsement
- First new four-year nursing program in 78 years
- Prepares graduates for NCLEX-RN and advanced practice study
Great Falls College Montana State University
#2Great Falls, MT · ~$12,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 98.3% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Adults seeking a two-year RN credential
The associate degree here is one of the state's strongest two-year routes to RN licensure, with first-time NCLEX-RN results at 98.3 percent over the board's most recent three reporting years. The Montana Board of Nursing lists the registered nursing program as approved through 2026. Institution-wide, about 34 percent of students graduate, a reminder that completion rates at open-access colleges often trail licensure results.
- Montana Board of Nursing approval runs through 2026
- Prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN for Montana licensure
Carroll College
#3Helena, MT · ~$24,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 98.1% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Students wanting a liberal arts nursing foundation
A private Helena college with a liberal arts core, this BSN layers ethics, pathophysiology and pharmacology, leadership, and family care on top of clinical placements and deliberate NCLEX-RN preparation. More than 1,600 graduates have come through the program, and a loan forgiveness partnership with Benefis Health System gives eligible students a way to cut debt while staying in Montana. First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates average 98.1 percent across the board's most recent three reporting years, and about 69 percent of students graduate institution-wide.
- CCNE accredited
- More than 1,600 nursing graduates to date
- Loan forgiveness partnership with Benefis Health System
- Liberal arts foundation alongside clinical training
- NCLEX-RN preparation emphasized throughout
- Coursework in care of the childbearing family and nursing leadership
Flathead Valley Community College
#4Kalispell, MT · ~$8,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 97.4% (3-yr weighted avg)
The two-semester, 28-credit ASN is a bridge built specifically for licensed practical nurses, so it moves quickly and assumes prior clinical experience. In 2024 the program posted a 95.65 percent first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate with 23 test takers, a strong result from a cohort small enough to swing sharply year to year. Background checks and immunizations are required before clinical placement, and about 29 percent of students graduate institution-wide.
- Two-semester, 28-credit program
- Open to licensed practical nurses only
- Prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN and Montana licensure
- Background check and immunizations required for admission
University of Providence
#5Great Falls, MT · $15,000 – $20,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 96.2% (3-yr weighted avg)
The traditional BSN is a four-year, 120-credit degree with rolling admissions, a 3.3 GPA minimum, and prerequisites completed before nursing coursework begins. Students train in a dedicated skills facility and through local clinical placements, with a Catholic liberal arts tradition framing the curriculum. A partnership with Benefis Health System, called Boost UP, offers eligible students up to $30,000 in support plus employment ties after graduation. First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates average 96.2 percent over the board's most recent three reporting years, while institution-wide graduation is about 28 percent.
- CCNE accredited four-year program
- 120 total credit hours
- 3.3 GPA minimum plus prerequisite coursework
- Rolling admissions
- Boost UP partnership offers up to $30,000 in support
- State-of-the-art skills facility plus hands-on clinicals
Helena College University of Montana
#6Helena, MT · $12,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 94.5% (3-yr weighted avg)
Small and deliberately paced, this associate degree admits roughly 20 students each semester with fall and spring starts, and the Montana Board of Nursing lists its approval through 2029. The TEAS is required, the college cites continuing ACEN accreditation, and it reports a 96 percent retention and completion rate. First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates average 94.5 percent across the board's most recent three reporting years, and about 33 percent of students graduate institution-wide.
- ACEN accredited with continuing accreditation
- TEAS entrance exam required
- Admits about 20 students each semester
- Two start dates per year, fall and spring
- College reports a 96 percent retention and completion rate
- Montana Board of Nursing approval runs through 2029
Montana State University
#7Bozeman, MT · ~$22,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 91.3% (3-yr weighted avg)
Montana State's Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing runs the state's largest BSN pipeline, with students training across five campuses in Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, and Missoula and simulation labs funded by a $101 million investment. Montana high school graduates can enter through a guaranteed direct entry route, and programs such as Caring for Our Own and the rural ANEW scholars option support Native and rural students. First-time NCLEX-RN results were 91.6 percent in 2024 across 369 test takers, and the college reports 90.1 percent for 2025, a useful example of ordinary year-to-year movement at scale.
- CCNE accredited
- 3.0 GPA minimum with prerequisite coursework
- Five campus locations across Montana
- Montana Direct Entry guarantees a seat for Montana high school graduates
- Prerequisites must be completed within 15 years
- New buildings and simulation labs funded by a $101 million investment
- Apply through NursingCAS
- Background check and drug screening required
The University of Montana
#8Missoula, MT · ~$17,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 91.3% (3-yr weighted avg)
The associate degree at Missoula College is a four-semester program with fall and spring starts, capped at about 18 students per semester, so seats go to applicants who clear the 2.5 GPA and prerequisite requirements early. Criminal background checks, a 10-panel drug screen, and BLS Healthcare Provider certification are required before clinical work. Board data showed a 90.32 percent first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2023, with the three-year average sitting near 91 percent. Institution-wide graduation is about 48 percent.
- ACEN accredited four-semester program
- Starts fall and spring
- 2.5 GPA minimum plus prerequisites
- Limited to 18 students per semester
- Criminal background check and 10-panel drug screen required
- BLS Healthcare Provider certification required
- Clinical experience in acute care settings
- Approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing
Montana State University Billings
#9Billings, MT · $17,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 86.9% (3-yr weighted avg)
The associate degree at City College is a points-based, competitive entry program with fall and spring starts, fully approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing and accredited by NLN CNEA. Recent graduates are hired locally, with reported median earnings of $63,168 for 2022 through 2024 completers, and a pathway into an RN-to-BSN completion degree. First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates average 86.9 percent over the board's most recent three reporting years, and about 30 percent of students graduate institution-wide.
- NLN CNEA accredited
- Two start dates per year, fall and spring
- Median earnings of $63,168 for 2022 to 2024 graduates
- Competitive points-based admission
- Pathway to an RN-to-BSN completion degree
- Fully approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing
- Recent graduates hired at Billings Clinic
Salish Kootenai College
#10Pablo, MT · ~$8,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 85.5% (2-yr weighted avg)
Montana's tribal nursing presence is anchored here, with a direct-admit BSN that starts students in nursing coursework from day one and an associate degree the college says leads the nation in Native American RN graduates. The BSN runs as a four-year cohort with high-fidelity simulation and clinical rotations at urban and rural Montana hospitals, and it prepares graduates for Indian Health Service and Veterans Administration roles. The ASN, established in 1988, blends Native American perspectives into practice and feeds an ASN-to-RN-BSN completion path. Across both programs, first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates average 85.5 percent over the board's most recent reporting years from a group of roughly 27 test takers.
- Early admission with no reapplication required
- Four-year cohort-based program starting in fall
- Application deadline of March 31, 2026
- ACEN accredited
- High-fidelity simulation plus clinical rotations at Montana hospitals
- Prepares graduates for Indian Health Service and VA nursing roles
- Small faculty-to-student ratios
- 104 total credit hours
- Established in 1988
- College reports leading the nation in Native American RN graduates
- ASN-to-RN-BSN completion adds 76 credits
- Blends Native American perspectives into nursing practice
- Smaller class sizes with personalized attention
Why First-Attempt NCLEX Results Drive This List
A first-attempt NCLEX-RN pass rate is the share of a program's graduates who pass the national licensing exam on their first sitting. It comes closest to answering the question every applicant has: will this program prepare me to practice? Graduates can't work as RNs without passing, and the state board reports results publicly, so anyone can verify them, but How to Read NCLEX-RN Pass Rate Data When Evaluating Nursing Schools helps you interpret what those results mean.
Accreditation and Board Approval
Pass rates sit alongside two credentials. The Montana Board of Nursing provides state board of nursing approval for programs to prepare graduates for licensure. Separately, ACEN or CCNE accredits the program nationally.
- CCNE: MSU, Carroll College, University of Providence, Montana Technological University, and Touro University.
- ACEN: MSU-Northern, Great Falls College MSU, Helena College, Missoula College, Blackfeet Community College, Aaniiih Nakoda College, and Salish Kootenai College.
Most of these hold full Board approval. Blackfeet and Aaniiih Nakoda are conditional through 2026, Touro is in Phase II approval, and Salish Kootenai's Board category wasn't confirmed. University of Providence's current approval period also runs through 2026, so confirm its renewal on the Board's list before you apply.
Accreditation matters beyond the label. Many BSN and MSN admissions offices expect an accredited prior degree, accreditation can affect federal financial aid eligibility, and some employers screen for it.
Limits of the Data
Graduation rates and net price cover the whole institution, not just the nursing program, so treat them as context rather than a verdict. Small cohorts at rural and tribal programs can also swing 100% NCLEX Pass Rate figures sharply from one year to the next. One strong or weak year says less than a multi-year pattern, so look at several years of results before you decide.
What Montana Nursing Programs Cost, and What Graduates Earn Early On
Montana's tribal colleges are the least expensive route to an RN here: average net prices run from $5,410 at Blackfeet Community College to $7,945 at Salish Kootenai College, while public two-year colleges such as Flathead Valley, Helena, Miles, and Great Falls College MSU fall between roughly $8,100 and $12,500, and public universities range from about $12,700 at MSU-Northern to $22,499 at Montana State University. The private schools carry the highest sticker prices ($30,448 at the University of Providence and $41,484 at Carroll College), but aid brings their average net prices to $17,649 and $23,960, which is closer to the top public options than tuition alone suggests. For a sense of early-career pay against those costs, MSU Billings reports entry-level wages of $63,168 for its City College nursing graduates, roughly four times its average net price. Keep in mind that net price is an average across all students at each institution, not a quote for your situation, and that graduation rates cited elsewhere on this page are institution-wide, not nursing-specific. Figures below come from IPEDS and College Scorecard (2024) data from the U.S. Department of Education.
| School (City) | Program | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Avg. Net Price After Aid (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackfeet Community College (Browning) | Associate of Science in Nursing | $3,610 | $3,610 | $5,410 |
| Aaniiih Nakoda College (Harlem) | Associate of Science Grow Our Own Nursing Program | $3,080 | $3,080 | $7,887 |
| Salish Kootenai College (Pablo) | Direct Admit BSN | $6,399 | $11,583 | $7,945 |
| Flathead Valley Community College (Kalispell) | Registered Nurse (for LPNs) | $6,223 | $11,659 | $8,099 |
| Miles Community College (Miles City) | Associate of Science in Nursing | $7,180 | $11,220 | $10,405 |
| Helena College University of Montana (Helena) | Associate of Science in Registered Nursing | $4,106 | $11,278 | $11,593 |
| Great Falls College Montana State University (Great Falls) | Registered Nurse | $4,028 | $12,911 | $12,468 |
| Montana State University-Northern (Havre) | Associate of Science in Nursing | $6,982 | $21,875 | $12,664 |
| Montana Technological University (Butte) | Nursing, B.S. | $8,289 | $26,094 | $16,481 |
| Montana State University Billings (Billings) | Associate Degree in Nursing | $7,280 | $22,897 | $16,524 |
| The University of Montana (Missoula) | Associate of Science in Nursing | $8,552 | $33,671 | $16,784 |
| University of Providence (Great Falls) | Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing | $30,448 | $30,448 | $17,649 |
| Montana State University (Bozeman) | Bachelor of Science in Nursing | $8,460 | $33,287 | $22,499 |
| Carroll College (Helena) | Nursing (BSN) | $41,484 | $41,484 | $23,960 |
ASN in Two Years or BSN in Four? Weighing Montana's RN Pathways
Yes, you can become a registered nurse in Montana in about two years. Associate degree graduates sit for the same NCLEX-RN as BSN graduates, though required prerequisites often add a semester or more before the nursing sequence begins. Many Montanans start with an affordable associate degree close to home, start working as an RN, and then finish a BSN online while employed. The state workforce data below shows how common that bridge strategy has become.
| Factor | ASN/ADN | BSN |
|---|---|---|
| Time to RN licensure | About two years of nursing coursework, often after a semester or more of prerequisites | About four years, including general education and prerequisites |
| Licensing exam | NCLEX-RN (same exam as BSN graduates) | NCLEX-RN (same exam as ASN graduates) |
| Montana first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate (2025) | 89.8% | 98.2% |
| Typical cost | Generally lower: public two-year tuition, often while living at home | Generally higher: four years of university tuition and fees |
| Where it's offered in Montana | Community colleges, tribal colleges, and MSU-Northern | University-based BSN programs, such as Montana State University |
| Statewide nursing enrollment (2024) | 210 students | 478 students |
| Share of Montana RNs who entered through this degree (2022) | 38% | 55% |
| Montana RN median income (2025) | $71,000 per year | $70,000 per year |
| Hiring outlook | Many rural Montana facilities hire ADN-prepared RNs without restriction | Magnet hospitals, the VA system, and larger health systems increasingly prefer or require a BSN |
| Common next step | RN-to-BSN bridge while working. 26% of Montana RNs began with an ASN and have since earned a BSN or higher | Eligible to apply to graduate nursing programs, including nurse practitioner tracks |
Montana by City
Explore other Montana related topics
Accelerated Nursing Programs in Montana for Career Changers
Yes, Montana offers accelerated BSN programs for second career nurses entering with a bachelor's degree, and both run about 12 months. Montana State University's version moves through three consecutive semesters (fall, spring, summer) and finishes the following August. The University of Providence track also spans three semesters, with students averaging roughly 8 to 10 credit hours each term.
Eligibility and Workload
MSU requires a bachelor's in a non-nursing field and a 3.0 GPA in prerequisite courses. Those courses (BIOH 201, BIOH 211, BIOM 250, CHMY 121, CHMY 123) need a C- or better and must be no more than 15 years old. At least three of the five must be done when you apply. Cohorts are placed at campuses in Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, and Missoula, though one MSU page leaves Billings off its list, so confirm your site.
Providence accepts a bachelor's in any field. Published sources do not give a full prerequisite list; Providence requires a 2.75 GPA, so ask admissions before you plan. Skills labs are in Lewistown, Great Falls, and Anchorage.
Expect a full-time load that makes holding a job rarely realistic, even at 8 to 10 credit hours a semester, because clinical hours stack on top.
What About Montana Tech?
Current sources do not confirm an accelerated or second-degree BSN at Montana Tech. No length, prerequisites, or start dates can be verified, so treat it as a traditional-route option and ask the school directly.
Results and Timing
Both tracks sit under parent nursing programs, so check the NCLEX-RN pass rates in the ranking above to see how MSU and Providence have performed. Those results are the best available signal for what an accelerated cohort is likely to deliver.
One practical tip on dates: MSU takes applications once a year through NursingCAS, with a January 5 priority deadline and a July 15 final deadline only if seats remain. Providence's regular start is January, but its 2026 Great Falls cohort began in May, described as an inaugural summer group. Confirm whether that repeats before you build a plan around it.
MSU (Michigan State) vs. Providence Accelerated BSN at a Glance
The MSU accelerated BSN with published details is Michigan State University's program in East Lansing and Detroit, Michigan, not Montana State University in Bozeman. Providence's Great Falls ABSN is the in-state choice. Its May 2026 cohort was capped at 20 seats, and the program page now lists Spring 2028 cohorts with no deadline posted, so confirm current deadlines and start dates with each school before you apply.
Where to Study Nursing in Montana: Bozeman, Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, and Rural Campuses
Montana nursing colleges have spread well beyond Bozeman in recent years, and the newest piece, an MSU College of Nursing facility in Great Falls, opened in Fall 2025. Where you study now shapes your clinical placements as much as your classroom.
Does the University of Montana Have a Nursing Program?
Yes, at the associate level. Missoula College, part of the University of Montana, offers an Associate of Science in Nursing. It is a four-semester, ACEN-accredited program that starts in fall or spring and caps each cohort at 18 students. If you want a BSN in Missoula, that comes through MSU's College of Nursing, which runs its own Missoula campus; registered nurses can compare RN to BSN Programs in Montana.
MSU's Five-Campus Model
MSU's College of Nursing operates in Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls, Kalispell, and Missoula. The traditional BSN is offered at all five. The accelerated BSN is offered at Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, and Missoula, but not Billings. The pathway includes more than 1,000 clinical hours, and upper-division clinical coursework is tied to a campus. Ask each admissions office how campus placement works before you apply.
City-by-City Options
- Great Falls: University of Providence (traditional BSN), Great Falls College MSU (associate-level RN), and MSU's campus at 400 15th Avenue South, Suite 106, phone (406) 771-4450.
- Billings: MSU Billings offers an ASN-RN program of 72 credits over five semesters. Admission is competitive, with fall and spring starts after prerequisites.1
- Helena: Carroll College (BSN) and Helena College University of Montana (associate-level RN).
- Butte: Montana Technological University (BSN).
- Kalispell: MSU's campus, plus Flathead Valley Community College, whose RN program is a two-semester track for licensed practical nurses only.
- Havre: MSU-Northern may be worth a look, but confirm its current pre-licensure offerings directly with the school.
Rural and Tribal Access
Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, a tribal college, offers a direct-admit BSN with clinical sites at Montana hospitals and a focus on preparing graduates for Indian Health Service careers. Which other tribal colleges offer pre-licensure nursing is not confirmed here, so check with each college.
Studying close to home can matter. Clinical placements in rural Montana often depend on local and regional partners, and a program rooted in your community may place you where you plan to work. MSU Billings, for example, places students across all five MSU nursing cities.1
What Montana Nursing Programs Look for in Applicants
Requirements vary by school and change from cycle to cycle, so use this as a working checklist and confirm each item with your target program. The most detailed published 2026 criteria come from Montana State University and Montana Tech.
- Science prerequisitesMSU requires five lab sciences (anatomy and physiology I and II, microbiology, and two chemistry courses) at C- or better. At least three must be done when you apply, and Anatomy & Physiology I must be one of them.
- Prerequisite GPAMontana Tech requires at least a 3.0 across its core prerequisites. MSU lists a 2.75 cumulative GPA, but because admission is competitive, treat that as a floor, not a target.
- How hard MSU is to get intoMSU describes admission to its upper-division nursing courses as competitive, decided after at least 28 credits. It does not publish an acceptance rate.
- Entrance examMontana Tech requires a TEAS score of 68% or higher and allows one attempt per application semester. Testing requirements at other schools, including two-year ASN programs, should be confirmed directly.
- Course recencyMontana Tech expects science courses within five years and general education courses within 10 years.
- DeadlinesMontana Tech's Fall 2026 deadline was May 1, 2026. MSU's accelerated BSN has a January 5 priority deadline and a July 15 final deadline if seats remain.
- ASN vs. BSN differencesTwo-year colleges such as Missoula College and Great Falls College set their own prerequisites and testing rules, so check their current requirements before you plan your coursework.
- Healthcare experienceCNA certification or patient-care experience may strengthen an application, but whether it is required varies by school.
- Clinical clearanceExpect a background check, a drug screen, and up-to-date immunizations before clinical placements begin.