Best Business Colleges in Montana by Earnings (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 9 colleges in Montana that report a Business earnings cohort, ordered by the median earnings of Business graduates four years after completing. Montana State University ranks 1st with median earnings of $71,578 after completing.
Across the list, the figure ranges from $71,578 to $39,369, with a median of $59,033. For 1 of the 9 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 6 of the 9 schools, or 67%, and private nonprofits for 3. Montana State University-Northern posts the lowest average net price on the page at $12,664.
Carroll College reports the highest six-year completion rate, graduating 69% of its students within six years. University of Providence ranks 226th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Business Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana State University · Bozeman, MT | $71,578 | $22,499 | $17,797 | 82.1% |
| Montana State University reports $71,578 in median earnings of Business graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 82%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (292 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (11 graduates), Hospitality Administration/Management (7 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business/Commerce, General ($71,578) | |||||
| 2 | The University of Montana · Missoula, MT | $66,003 | $16,784 | $13,960 | 95.9% |
| An average net price of $16,784 and a six-year completion rate of 48% accompany The University of Montana's $66,003 median. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Management Information Systems and Services (67 graduates), Marketing (52 graduates), Business Administration, Management and Operations (46 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Management Information Systems and Services ($73,149), Accounting and Related Services ($61,408), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($57,892) | |||||
| 3 | Carroll College · Helena, MT | $65,565 | $23,960 | $17,072 | 70.9% |
| Carroll College, a private nonprofit college in Helena, graduates 69% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (19 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (7 graduates) | |||||
| 4 | Rocky Mountain College · Billings, MT | $59,499 | $19,751 | $15,404 | 69.6% |
| Rocky Mountain College ranks 4th on this list and shows an average net price of $15,404 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (17 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (6 graduates), Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (6 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($59,499) | |||||
| 5 | Montana Technological University · Butte, MT | $59,033 | $16,481 | $11,914 | 91.1% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 58%, Montana Technological University reports median earnings of $59,033 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Management Information Systems and Services (31 graduates), Business/Commerce, General (9 graduates) | |||||
| 6 | Montana State University Billings · Billings, MT | $58,827 | $16,524 | $13,927 | Not reported |
| Montana State University Billings posts a six-year completion rate of 30% and an average net price of $16,524. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (123 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business/Commerce, General ($58,827) | |||||
| 7 | University of Providence · Great Falls, MT | $48,103 | $17,649 | $14,257 | 50.3% |
| University of Providence admits 50% of applicants and reports median earnings of $48,103 for its Business graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (15 graduates) | |||||
| 8 | The University of Montana-Western · Dillon, MT | $47,344 | $16,558 | $14,822 | 99.8% |
| The University of Montana-Western ranks 1200th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $16,558. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (33 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($47,344) | |||||
| 9 | Montana State University-Northern · Havre, MT | $39,369 | $12,664 | $9,940 | Not reported |
| Montana State University-Northern reports median earnings of $39,369 two years after completing and an average net price of $9,940 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (34 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Business graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figures are medians for federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled, measured after completing. For 1 of the 9 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. Montana State University leads The University of Montana by $5,575, and the spread from top to bottom is $32,209.