Find Trade Colleges

Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Montana

2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Montana

9 Schools Ranked
$8,389 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$16,681 Avg Student Debt

With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.

The Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Montana ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 9 schools in Montana to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Associate Degree Schools in Montana

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

University of Providence

Great Falls, Montana
1 Total Awards
$27,606 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found University of Providence to be the best school for trade school students who want to pursue a associate degree in Montana. Great Falls, Montana is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 1 students in 2021-2022.

If you want to attend University of Providence, expect to pay an average of $27,606 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.

If you are interested in distance education, University of Providence is an excellent choice, since the school is online.

Full University of Providence Report

53 Total Awards
$3,667 Average Tuition & Fees
$13,254 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Highlands College of Montana Tech. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Montana list. Highlands College of Montana Tech is a very small public school situated in Butte, Montana. It awarded 53 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $3,667 in tuition and fees if they attend Highlands College of Montana Tech full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,642. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,254 in student loans.

One thing to take note of is that Highlands College of Montana Tech does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 29% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

104 Total Awards
$5,955 Average Tuition & Fees
$21,483 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Montana State University - Northern. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Montana list. Montana State University - Northern is a small public school situated in Havre, Montana. It awarded 104 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Montana pay an average of $5,955 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Montana State University - Northern. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $18,665. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,483 in student loans.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Montana State University - Northern does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 61% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#4

Montana State University

Bozeman, Montana
115 Total Awards
$7,727 Average Tuition & Fees
$16,147 Avg Student Debt

The excellent associate degree programs at Montana State University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in Montana. This fairly large public school is located in Bozeman, Montana, and it awarded 115 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $7,727 in tuition and fees if they attend MSU Bozeman full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $29,604. On average, associate degree students take out $16,147 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Some students may be able to take online classes at MSU Bozeman. In fact, around 19% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Full Montana State University Report

202 Total Awards
$6,198 Average Tuition & Fees
$18,205 Avg Student Debt

The excellent associate degree programs at Montana State University - Billings helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in Montana. Montana State University - Billings is a small public school located in Billings, Montana that handed out 202 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $6,198 in tuition and fees if they attend Montana State University - Billings full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $19,924. On average, associate degree students take out $18,205 in loans while pursuing their degree.

One thing to take note of is that Montana State University - Billings does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 61% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Montana State University - Billings

#6

Miles Community College

Miles City, Montana
81 Total Awards
$6,240 Average Tuition & Fees
$17,203 Avg Student Debt

Miles Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Montana list. Miles Community College is a very small public school situated in Miles City, Montana. It awarded 81 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Montana pay an average of $6,240 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Miles Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,110. On average, associate degree students take out $17,203 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Miles Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 75% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#7

The University of Montana

Missoula, Montana
296 Total Awards
$7,719 Average Tuition & Fees
$19,416 Avg Student Debt

The University of Montana came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Montana ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Missoula, Montana, and it awarded 296 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UM is $7,719. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $29,634. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,416 in student loans.

UM does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 41% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

138 Total Awards
$3,590 Average Tuition & Fees
$17,556 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #8, Helena College University of Montana did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Helena College is a public institution located in Helena, Montana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 138 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $3,590 in tuition and fees if they attend Helena College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,863. On average, associate degree students take out $17,556 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Helena College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 41% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Helena College University of Montana Report

#9

Flathead Valley Community College

Kalispell, Montana
239 Total Awards
$6,798 Average Tuition & Fees
$15,104 Avg Student Debt

Flathead Valley Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #9 on the list. Flathead Valley Community College is a small public school located in Kalispell, Montana that handed out 239 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $6,798 in tuition and fees if they attend Flathead Valley Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,720. Associate Degree recipients from Flathead Valley Community College accumulate an average of $15,104 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Online courses are available at Flathead Valley Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 26% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Flathead Valley Community College Report

Best Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

View Best Trade Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 9 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Trade Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited trade schools across the U.S.