Montana doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 6 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 6 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Havre came out on top.
The 6 Best College Towns In Montana For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Montana's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | Montana State University-Northern |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 761 (8 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 9,258 |
| Median rent | $844 |
| Graduation rate | 40% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $16,578 |
Havre is home to Montana State University-Northern. There are 8 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $844 a month, and the average cost to attend is $16,578 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 6 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Montana State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 14,451 (26 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 56,114 |
| Median rent | $1,717 |
| Graduation rate | 61% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $25,905 |
Bozeman is home to Montana State University. There are 26 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,717 a month, and the average cost to attend is $25,905 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 6 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | The University of Montana |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 7,488 (10 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 76,514 |
| Median rent | $1,189 |
| Graduation rate | 50% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $23,570 |
Missoula is home to The University of Montana. There are 10 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,189 a month, and the average cost to attend is $23,570 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 6 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Carroll College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,092 (3 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 33,639 |
| Median rent | $1,092 |
| Graduation rate | 72% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $55,626 |
Helena is home to Carroll College. There are 3 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,092 a month, and the average cost to attend is $55,626 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 6 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Montana State University Billings, Rocky Mountain College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,466 (3 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 119,434 |
| Median rent | $1,138 |
| Graduation rate | 43% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $33,074 |
Billings is home to Montana State University Billings, Rocky Mountain College. There are 3 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,138 a month, and the average cost to attend is $33,074 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 6 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Providence |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 528 (1 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 60,329 |
| Median rent | $900 |
| Graduation rate | 51% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $43,477 |
Great Falls is home to University of Providence. There are 1 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $900 a month, and the average cost to attend is $43,477 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 6 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Montana
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 6 towns in Montana that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Montana.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Montana.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Montana
If you're looking for the best college towns in Montana, Havre is where to start.
The best college towns in Montana are Havre, Bozeman, Missoula, Helena, Billings, and Great Falls.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Montana for 2026?
Havre is the best college town in Montana for 2026, followed by Bozeman and Missoula.
How did you rank the best college towns in Montana?
We looked at every town in Montana with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Montana?
Great Falls ranks last of the 6 college towns we ranked in Montana for 2026.
Best College Towns In Montana For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Havre, MT | 9,258 | 761 | $844 |
| 2 | Bozeman, MT | 56,114 | 14,451 | $1,717 |
| 3 | Missoula, MT | 76,514 | 7,488 | $1,189 |
| 4 | Helena, MT | 33,639 | 1,092 | $1,092 |
| 5 | Billings, MT | 119,434 | 3,466 | $1,138 |
| 6 | Great Falls, MT | 60,329 | 528 | $900 |
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