Montana Nursing Schools And Programs

Montana's nursing schools are affordable and post strong NCLEX-RN pass rates, many near 90%. This guide covers the best programs in the state, how to get licensed, and what nurses earn.

The Best Nursing Schools in Montana

Carroll College

Carroll's BSN is one of the most respected nursing programs in the state, offered in both traditional and accelerated (15-month) formats. Most clinicals happen in Helena, starting at the 200 level.

• Program: Bachelor of science in nursing
• Campus: Helena, MT
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $37,830 per year
• Admission: ACT composite of 24 or SAT of 1190; minimum 3.30 GPA
• Minimum time commitment: 15 months
• On-campus requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 100%
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $60,325 (College Scorecard)

Montana Tech

Montana Tech offers its BSN in pre- and postlicensure formats. Coursework covers nursing for healthy aging, mental health nursing, and care from the patient's perspective, and ends with a leadership and management capstone.

• Program: Bachelor of science in nursing (pre- or postlicensure)
• Campus: Butte, MT
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $7,580 per year
• Admission: Minimum 3.0 GPA; RN license; approved CPR course
• Minimum time commitment: 48 months
• On-campus requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 100%
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $56,415 (College Scorecard)

Blackfeet Community College

A tribal land-grant college offering a partly online BSN that prepares students for the NCLEX. Coursework includes Piikani language for healthcare professionals, developmental psychology, and basic human nutrition.

• Program: Bachelor of science in nursing
• Campus: Browning, MT
• Type: Private
• Tuition: $120 per credit hour
• Admission: High school diploma; 28 credits of prerequisite coursework
• Minimum time commitment: 48 months
• On-campus requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 33.3%

Montana State University

MSU offers a fully online MSN that prepares students for the clinical nurse leader certification exam, with an optional nursing education certificate. Students travel to the Bozeman campus for an in-person assessment at the start of each fall semester.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Bozeman, MT
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $283 per credit hour
• Admission: BSN; minimum 3.0 GPA; RN license
• Minimum time commitment: 24 months
• On-campus requirements: Yes

Flathead Valley Community College

FVCC offers a 73-credit associate in nursing that prepares students for in-state RN work. Coursework covers health and illness of child and family, managing client care, and microbiology for health sciences.

• Program: Associate of science in nursing
• Campus: Kalispell, MT
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: NLN CNEA
• Tuition: $138 per credit hour
• Admission: High school diploma; minimum 2.75 GPA; Kaplan nursing entrance exam
• Minimum time commitment: 24 months
• On-campus requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 76%

Helena College

Helena College offers a 72-credit associate degree that prepares students for RN licensure through lectures, independent study, skills lab, and clinicals. It also offers a hybrid certificate in practical nursing.

• Program: Associate of science in registered nursing
• Campus: Helena, MT
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: ACEN
• Tuition: $108.59 per credit hour
• Admission: High school diploma; minimum 2.75 GPA; TEAS score of 70 or higher
• Minimum time commitment: 24 months
• On-campus requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 93.9%
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $57,318 (College Scorecard)

Miles Community College

Miles offers a 72-credit associate that prepares students for RN licensure over four to five semesters. The program accepts 38 students each year before closing enrollment.

• Program: Associate of science in nursing
• Campus: Miles City, MT
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: ACEN
• Tuition: $146 per credit hour
• Admission: High school diploma; Kaplan nursing entrance exam
• Minimum time commitment: 24 months
• On-campus requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 73.7%
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $47,260 (College Scorecard)

Great Falls College MSU

Great Falls College offers an associate in nursing for RN licensure, plus a hybrid certificate in practical nursing.

• Program: Associate of science in nursing
• Campus: Great Falls, MT
• Type: Public
• Tuition: $118 per credit hour
• Admission: High school diploma; Kaplan nursing entrance exam; minimum 2.5 GPA; approved CPR program
• Minimum time commitment: 24 months
• On-campus requirements: Yes

Aaniiih Nakoda Community College

A tribal land-grant college offering an associate in nursing geared toward future RNs serving American Indian populations. Coursework includes mental health nursing, managing client care, and Aaniiih or Nakoda language studies, and ends with an NCLEX prep course.

• Program: Associate of science in nursing
• Campus: Agency, MT
• Type: Public
• Tuition: $70 per credit hour
• Admission: High school diploma; minimum 2.5 GPA
• Minimum time commitment: 24 months
• On-campus requirements: Yes

How to Choose a Nursing Program in Montana

Research each program's tuition, length, and financial aid. Verify its nursing accreditation status and check NCLEX pass rates, both of which signal program strength.

Why Become a Nurse in Montana

Montana offers some of the lowest in-state nursing tuition in the country, and the statewide NCLEX-RN pass rate sits around 89%. That combination makes it a solid place to train as an RN or advanced practice registered nurse.

Montana joined the Nurse Licensure Compact in 2015. It is now one of 41 states in the compact, which lets nurses hold a single multistate license, skip renewal fees in other member states, and provide telehealth care across state lines.

Salary and Job Outlook for Nurses in Montana

RNs in Montana earn a mean of about $82,950 a year (2024 BLS), with most earning between $64,530 and $104,970. Nurse practitioners average about $128,698. Montana's cost-of-living index is 94 against the U.S. base of 100, so those salaries stretch further.

Demand is climbing. Projections Central estimates Montana RN employment could grow by about 10%, faster than the average for all occupations. The highest-paying areas tend to be the state's more populated regions, including Billings and Great Falls.

Steps to Becoming a Nurse in Montana

Montana's RN licensing requirements track other states: complete a board-approved nursing program, pass the NCLEX-RN, and clear a background check. Both RNs and APRNs must meet continuing education requirements to keep their licenses.

RN Requirements

Complete a board-approved program (associate or bachelor's), both of which prepare you for the NCLEX-RN and qualify you for licensure. Submit official transcripts to the Montana Board of Nursing for verification before testing.

Montana RN licenses are valid for two years and expire December 31 of every second year. During each cycle, RNs must complete at least 24 hours of approved continuing education, which works out to one hour per month of licensure.

Because Montana is an NLC state, nurses may apply for a multistate license to practice in other compact states. Nurses moving to Montana from another compact state must apply for a Montana license.

APRN Requirements

An APRN holds two licenses: an APRN license and a valid RN license. You need a graduate-level nursing degree (master's or doctoral) from an accredited program, and most programs require a valid RN license for admission. Clinical training happens during the program.

NP candidates must earn certification from a board-approved national certifying body, which generally means a graduate degree from an accredited NP program plus passing an exam. Montana APRNs may practice as a certified NP, certified nurse midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist, or clinical nurse specialist. NPs renew every two years and meet the same 24-hour continuing education requirement as RNs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing in Montana

How long does it take? An associate program leads to licensure in about two years; a bachelor's takes four. An MSN typically adds two more years of fulltime study after a BSN and some clinical experience.

Is there demand? Yes. Montana's Department of Labor and Industry reports ongoing nursing shortages, with a sizable share of current RNs nearing retirement, so the state will need nurses for the foreseeable future.

What do RNs earn? Half of Montana RNs earn between $64,530 and $104,970, with a mean around $82,950. Nurses can raise that by adding education, specializing, or switching practice settings.

Is Montana a compact state? Yes. It joined the NLC in 2015, so nurses can earn a multistate license. Nurses moving in from other compact states must apply for primary licensure in Montana.