Montana Nursing Programs and Degrees Guide
The following guide contains important information on the nursing programs offered in the state of Montana. The undergraduate and graduate nursing programs in Montana often allow students to focus their studies on a specific area of nursing, such as family nurse practitioner and health administration and informatics. Some students, however, require more flexibility than a traditional, on-campus nursing program affords. Online bachelor’s and master’s nursing programs can be a flexible alternative to traditional on-campus study.
Quick Facts
- 15 schools with nursing programs in Montana are in our database (see below).
- 12 colleges and universities offer associate’s degrees or certificates in nursing.1
- 6 colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees in nursing.1
- 1 university offers master’s or advanced degrees in nursing.1
- No schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges in 2018.2
- 1 school ranked in the Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Nursing Majors in 2018.3
- 1 school ranked in US News Best Nursing Schools: Master’s programs.4
- 1 school ranked in US News Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.4
Top-Ranked Schools with Nursing Programs in Montana
Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Nursing Majors 2018
- Montana Tech of the University of Montana
US News Best Nursing Schools: Master’s
- Montana State University (#131 tie)
US News Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Montana State University (#92 tie)
Continue reading below, where you will find more information about undergraduate and graduate nursing programs offered in Montana and online.
NCLEX Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Nursing Schools in Montana
The following table allows you to easily compare not-for-profit Montana nursing schools on a variety of factors. Click on the arrows in the top row to sort the table. In addition to seeking a program that leads to licensure in your desired area of nursing, it’s advisable to consider accreditation as a factor in your decision. If you are considering education beyond the associate’s level, know that a degree from a school that holds accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is a common requirement for admission to master’s degree, ADN/LVN and RN to BSN, and specialized certificate programs. You should also check to ensure that the school you are considering is approved or accepted by the Montana Board of Nursing (https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/nursing/).
| School | ADN or LVN Program | BSN Program | Graduate Nursing Program | ACEN/CCNE Accred.* | NCLEX-PN First Time Pass Rate** | # Taking | NCLEX-RN First Time Pass Rate^ | # Taking | Net Price^^ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackfeet Community College | Yes | No | No | No | 50% | 4 | 100% | 3 | $11,688 |
| Carroll College | No | Yes | No | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 84.21% | 38 | $23,789 |
| City College of Montana State University-Billings | Yes | No | No | No | 100% | 21 | 69.44% | 36 | $11,064 |
| Flathead Valley Community College | Yes | No | No | No | 100% | 17 | 75% | 16 | $8,290 |
| Great Falls College | Yes | No | No | No | 100% | 21 | 66.67% | 24 | $8,765 |
| Helena College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 96.55% | 29 | 100% | 24 | $10,079 |
| Miles Community College | Yes | No | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 53.85% | 26 | $8,432 |
| Missoula College-University of Montana | Yes | No | No | ACEN | 100% | 20 | 89.19% | 37 | $12,581 |
| Montana State University-Bozeman | No | Yes | Yes | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 89.9% | 208 | $14,416 |
| Montana State University-Northern | Yes | Yes | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 64% | 25 | $10,787 |
| Montana Tech | No | Yes | No | CCNE | N/A | N/A | 94.59% | 37 | $11,764 |
| Salish Kootenai College | Yes | Yes | No | ACEN | N/A | N/A | 88.89% | 9 | $8,375 |
*The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredits ADN/ASN/BSN programs. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits BSN/MSN/DNP programs.5,6
**NCLEX-PN pass rates are for first-time undergraduates testing between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016.7 You can compare these pass rates to the national average through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
^NCLEX-RN pass rates reported are for first-time undergraduates testing between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016.8 You can compare these pass rates to the national average through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
^^The National Center for Education Statistics calculates net price from the total estimated cost of attendance, including includes tuition, books, room and board, and other expenses, for in-state students minus the average financial aid award (such as grants and scholarships).
Schools in Montana with Nursing Degrees
Associate’s in Nursing Programs
City College of Montana State University-Billings
City College of Montana State University-Billings offers an Associate of Science in Nursing that helps students develop the clinical skills and knowledge needed to begin entry-level careers as registered nurses. Admission is competitive and is based on the prospective student’s grades in prerequisite courses as well as the student’s performance in an admissions interview. The degree requires 72 credit hours to complete and includes such courses as Adult Nursing, Health and Illness of Child and Family Nursing, and Nursing Pharmacology. Many of the required courses include lab and/or clinical experience components. The RN program at City College of Montana State University is approved by the Montana Board of Nursing. City College of Montana State University also offers a certificate of applied science in practical nursing.
Helena College
Helena College’s associate degree nursing program prepares graduates to earn registered nurse licensure and work in a variety of healthcare settings. The Associate of Science Registered Nursing has limited space and uses a competitive admissions process. Once admitted students complete such courses as Health and Illness of the Childbearing Family, Health and Wellness of Mental Health Nursing, and Managing Client Care. The program can typically be completed in five semesters. The RN program at Helena College is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and is approved by the Montana Board of Nursing. Helena College also offers a certificate of applied science in practical nursing.
Bachelor’s in Nursing Programs
Montana State University
Montana State University’s Bozeman College of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program prepares students to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The four-year, 120 credit program allows students to complete upper-division nursing courses at any of the university’s campuses in Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, or Missoula. The nursing curriculum includes such required courses as psychiatric nursing, acute and chronic illness, care management, and research in health care. Students are required to complete clinical rotations at local medical facilities. Scholarships may be available for eligible students.
University of Montana Missoula College
The University of Montana’s Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program is divided into three phases. During the first phase, which covers one to two semesters, students complete general college prerequisite coursework. In the second phase, nursing majors begin taking lower level nursing courses. The third phase, which takes four semesters, immerses students in challenging nursing coursework, which includes clinical practicums. Completing the first two phases does not guarantee admission to the nursing program. Admission to the third phase is competitive and is based on factors including prerequisite course GPA, the candidate’s score on the Kaplan Nursing School Entrance Exam, and an applicant interview.
Master’s in Nursing Programs
Montana State University
Montana State University offers the only master’s level nursing program in the state of Montana, a BSN to MSN distance degree program. The MSU Master of Nursing (MN) program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and graduates leave with the skills necessary to become leaders and to take graduate certification exams like the one needed to be certified as a Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNL). All MN students will complete an MN Professional Project during their time at MSU, completed in collaboration with a faculty chairperson and designated committee and defended with an oral defense. Past student projects have included developing mental health outreach programs, exploring alternative healing practices, and creating rural support groups for young cancer patients. Most of the coursework for the program is offered online using teleconference and video, with one on-campus visit required each Fall semester to Bozeman.
Student Reviews
Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.
Missoula College – University of Montana
1205 E Broadway St
Missoula, MT 59802
(406) 243-7811
https://www.umt.edu/missoula-college/
Student Review: “Missoula College was an adequate nursing program. I came into the program as a nontraditional student. I had already received an undergraduate degree in biology and Chemistry. Because it was an offshoot of the main campus, I do not think we had the staff or materials that the other students did. We did not have a cadaver lab and our clinicals were very limited. That being said I think we did pretty well overall and were able to pass the NCLEX. If I had to do it over again I probably would not attend this college and would go somewhere larger. It was very easy to get into and I did so at the last minute.” – Student at Missoula College – University of Montana
Montana State University
211 Montana Hall
Bozeman, MT 59717
(406) 994-0211
https://www.montana.edu/
Student Review: “I feel that the nursing program at MSU was very unnecessarily strict as they drug tested the students as well as forced them to participate in events. I strongly disliked my friends’ and my experiences in the Nursing program there as professors often abused their power and made their classes difficult to attain an A for, and you needed a 4.0 GPA to complete the program. Overall, it was a very poor experience full of stress, odd rules, cruel professors and intense grading scales. I am glad I changed my major and changed the school that I was attending as my life is now much more manageable.” – Student at Montana State University
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Tile
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges, 2018 Edition. New York, Penguin Random House, 2018.
4. US News Top Graduate Nursing Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-nursing-schools
5. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN): http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm
6. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE): https://directory.ccnecommunity.org/reports/accprog.asp
7. Montana Board of Nursing: https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/nursing/
8. Montana Board of Nursing: https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/