graduateshotline logo
Last Updated: October 06, 2021

Montana - The Treasure State

The state of Montana is located in the western part of the United States. It is a landlocked region bordered by the states of Wyoming, Idaho, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Montana is a name derived from the Spanish word "montana" which means "Mountain". The population of the state is just over a million (1.09 million), which makes it one of the least densely populated states in the US. Helena is the state capital whereas Billings is the largest city in Montana. The overall climate in Montana is popular for being pleasant as this state generally never experiences any extreme temperature. It is mostly dry throughout the year and experiences warm, sunny summers and very cold and snowy winters. It is said that Montana's nights during summers are truly stunning with lovely clear skies, which is also one of the reasons why the state is also known as the "Big Sky Country".


Major Cities in Montana

Billings

With a population of about 110,000, Billings is the largest city in the state of Montana. It was founded in 1877 and is situated in Yellowstone County. Montana State University-Billings and Rocky Mountain College are major education centers located in this city. Finance and healthcare services are the major economic sectors in this city. Billings is also a major tourist destination. Popular attractions include Zimmerman Park, Moss Mansion, ZooMontana, Yellowstone Art Museum, DanWalt Gardens, Riverfront Park, Western Heritage Center, Yellowstone National Park, and a lot more.

Missoula

Missoula has a population of around 74,000 which makes it the second-biggest city in Montana. Originally inhabited by the Salish Tribe, the city was founded in 1860. Missoula got its name from the Salish word "Nemissoolatakoo''. It is popularly known as the "Garden City'' because of several gardens, parks, and orchards seen here. One of the best institutions of higher education in the state, The University of Montana, is situated in this city. Popular sightseeing spots in Missoula are the Clark Fork Riverfront Trail, Smokejumper Visitor Center, Rattlesnake National Recreation Area, Caras Park, Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, etc.

Great Falls

Situated in Cascade County, Great Falls is the third-largest city in Montana. The city has an estimated population of around 59,000. The city is named so because of the presence of several waterfalls which are also a major source of hydroelectricity. This is why the city is also popularly called the "Electric City". The city is also home to the University of Great Falls. The River's Edge Trail, Giant Spring State Park, C.M. Russell Museum, Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park, Crooked Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Black Eagle Falls, are some of the best sites to be explored in this city.

Bozeman

With a population of approximately 47,000, Bozeman is the fourth-largest city in the state of Montana. It was founded in the 1860s by John M. Bozeman, who discovered the Bozeman Trail. The presence of Montana State University makes Bozeman a major educational center. Popular tourist attractions in the city include Museum of the Rockies, Big Sky Resort & Bridger Bowl Ski Area, Custer Gallatin National Forest, American Computer & Robotics Museum, Gallatin History Museum, Montana Grizzly Encounter, Glen Lake Rotary Park, and so on.

Economy/Job Market

Tuition Fee and Living Cost in Montana

The cost of living in Montana is lower than the national average. The costs for housing and healthcare are slightly higher than the nation's average, whereas transportation costs are the cheapest. Whitefish, Bozeman, Manhattan, and Missoula are the most expensive cities to live in. The most affordable cities in Montana are Colstrip, Scobey, Chester, Harlowton, and Wolf Point.

Education costs are considerably cheap for in-state students in public institutions, especially with the help of several available scholarships. However, the cost of education for out-of-state students is higher than the national average. For instance, the tuition fee in Montana's top university, the Montana State University (Bozeman), the in-state fee is around $9,000 whereas the out-of-state fee is around $28,000.

List of Few Major Universities/Colleges

The top educational institutes in the Treasure State are:

Scholarships/Financial Aid for Students

Tourism

Montana is a veritable treasure trove of not just gold and silver deposits, but also a rich history as well as nature's bounty. It is a place that offers a variety of landscapes (mountains, plains, rivers, and more), flora, and fauna. Being a state with the most favorable climate, it is an ideal place to engage in many outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, skiing, boat-riding, climbing, camping, and of course, stargazing.

The most fascinating destinations in the "Treasure State" are the Glacier National Park, Lolo National Forest, Custer-Gallatin National Forest, Montana State Capitol, Yellowstone National Park, Lewis & Clark Trail, Museum of the Rockies, Lake McDonald, Blackfoot River, Gallatin River, Big Sky Resort, and several others.

Universities & Colleges in Montana

University (city) Total StudentsUG (in) / UG (out)G (in) / G (out)
Montana State University (Bozeman) 18898$8363 / $27181$7318 / $21954
The University of Montana (Missoula) 13140$8363 / $28227$7318 / $24045
Montana Tech of the University of Montana (Butte) 2090$8363 / $24045$7318 / $20908
Carroll College (Helena) 1390$38681 / $38681$13590 / $13590
Rocky Mountain College (Billings) 1059$31363 / $31363$36590 / $36590
University of Great Falls (Great Falls) 1134$24045 / $24045$13590 / $13590
Montana State University-Northern (Havre) 1436$6272 / $19863$8363 / $21954
Salish Kootenai College (Pablo) 784$7318 / $12545$N/A / $N/A
Montana State University-Billings (Billings) 5749$6272 / $20908$8363 / $21954
The University of Montana-Western (Dillon) 1403$5227 / $16727$N/A / $N/A

*UG - Undergraduate
*G - Graduate
*in - In-state Fees
*out - Out-of-State Fees
- Recommended program (Top 250)