Montana Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

This guide to teacher preparation programs in Montana is designed to provide key information to help aspiring teachers decide on which program best suits their individual career needs. All teachers in Montana are required to complete a teacher preparation program in the state and there are quite a few teaching schools in Montana to choose from. In order to find the best school for your needs, we have compiled a list of accredited teacher preparation programs as well as student reviews from some of the schools. Whether you are a first-time college student or are switching from another career, use this guide to start on your way to your teaching degree in Montana.

School Facts:

• There are 18 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Montana.¹
• Six colleges and universities offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.¹
• Highest graduation rate*: Carroll College, 62%.¹
• Highest transfer-out rate*: The University of Montana-Western, 33%.¹
• Highest net price per year*: Carroll College, $22,825.¹
• Lowest net price per year*: Salish Kootenai College, $8,591.¹
• Annual undergraduate tuition range for teaching degree programs in Montana*: $14,431-$27,304.²
• Six schools ranked in US News Regional Colleges (West) in 2013 (top 100): Carroll College (1), Montana Tech of the University of Montana (6), Rocky Mountain College (9), University of Montana-Western (17), University of Great Falls (24), Montana State University-Northern (25).
• Three schools ranked in Forbes Top Colleges List (top 500): Montana State University (402), The University of Montana (409), Rocky Mountain College (499).
• Four teacher programs are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP (see below).*

*For 4-year colleges and universities with teacher degree programs.

Profiles of Well-Known Schools

University of Montana: University of Montana is located in Missoula, Montana and is home to the Phyllis J. Washington College of Education and Human Sciences. The College houses five departments including Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Counselor Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, and Health and Human Performance. All of the departments are equally important, but the heart of the College is definitely the Curriculum and Instruction department that trains future teachers for placement in the k-12 system. Current and future educators are able to earn one or more degrees in several dozen majors and areas of emphasis. Students are able to curtail their education to fit their personal and professional needs as they see fit. All of the faculty within the department of Curriculum and Instruction are themselves licensed educators.

Top-Rated Teacher Preparation Programs

The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) evaluated 1,100 college teacher preparation programs that train teachers for a professional career in the classroom (Teacher Prep Review 2013 Report). According to the evaluation standards, no programs in Montana made the “honor roll” of 3 stars or higher. Read more about the NCTQ Teacher Prep Review 2013 Report.

The following teacher preparation programs in Montana received the highest ratings by the National Council on Teacher Quality:

Montana State University (Undergraduate Secondary)
University of Montana (Graduate Secondary)

The following reviewed schools were cited as problematic (no stars):

Montana State University – Northern (Undergraduate Elementary)
Montana State University – Northern (Undergraduate Secondary)
University of Montana (Graduate Elementary)
University of Montana (Western Undergraduate Elementary)

Teacher Preparation Programs Accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP

• Montana State University
• Montana State University-Billings
• The University of Montana Western
• University of Montana-Missoula

Read more about the CAEP, NCATE, and TEAC accrediting bodies.

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Montana

Request free information from the following schools to learn more about your options for choosing a teacher degree program. We recommend you: Request information from one or more of these schools

Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Montana

Carroll College
1601 N Benton Ave
Helena, MT 59625-0002
(406) 447-4300
www.carroll.edu

Montana State University
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717
(406) 994-0211
www.montana.edu

Montana State University-Billings
1500 University Drive
Billings, MT 59101-0298
(406) 657-2011
www.msubillings.edu

Montana State University-Great Falls College of Technology
2100 16th Ave S
Great Falls, MT 59405
(406) 771-4300
www.msugf.edu

Montana State University-Northern
300 W 11th St
Havre, MT 59501
(406) 265-3700

Rocky Mountain College
1511 Poly Drive
Billings, MT 59102-1796
(406) 657-1000

The University of Montana
Missoula Montana
Missoula, MT 59812
(406) 243-0211
www.umt.edu

Student Review: “In all honesty, I would strongly recommend against choosing the University of Montana as a path to a teaching certificate. While it appears friendly and welcoming on the outside, on the inside very few professors care about their students as individuals. All of the worst, most disorganized, rude and hostile professors I had at college I had within the School of Education at UM. Classes were asinine, no one would tell me who my advisor was, and worst of all was the system used to place students in a student teaching/observation location. I got placed over forty miles outside of town and wasn’t able to afford gas to get back and forth, and I begged and pleaded with everyone from my professors, the observation coordinator, and even the dean of the school. Each time I got the same answer: If you really wanted to teach, you’d shut up and figure it out.” -Student at the University of Montana

The University of Montana-Western
710 S Atlantic
Dillon, MT 59725-3598
(406) 683-7011
www.umwestern.edu

Student Review: “I really like my school because we have a unique class system in which we only take one class at a time. The classes run 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 18 days and then we’re done with that class and move onto a different one. It makes it so much easier to focus on one class at a time and really get what we’re supposed to be learning and have time to focus on the work for that class. We also have small classes (25 students max), so it means the professors get to know the students on a lot more personal basis and it’s a lot easier to talk to them if you need help. The professors are all really knowledgeable and have diverse backgrounds and are very approachable and helpful when it comes to anything you need with class.” -Lacey W., student at The University of Montana-Western

Student Review: “This university was very willing to work with the fact that I have a family. I wanted to pursue a teaching degree and I wasn’t sure whether or not it was possible. With the unique perspectives to college and the overall effort put forth by the staff of the university, I feel like it was challenging – but manageable – to obtain my degree. The university has what is called the “block” system in which the student only takes one class at a time for three hours a day, Monday through Friday. I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child and a traditional college experience was overwhelming for me. But this university was very helpful and helped me to obtain my goals. I was able to put all of my attention and effort into one class at a time and therefore I was much more successful than I might have been in a traditional college.” -Student at University of Montana

University of Great Falls
1301 Twentieth St S
Great Falls, MT 59405-4996
(406) 761-8210

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Niche College Search: https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-for-education/