Best Trade Programs in Montana (2026)
The best trade school programs in Montana, ranked by overall value. We scored 33 programs across Montana trade schools on earnings, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $44,612/yr in graduate earnings.
Top Trade Programs in Montana
Top 33 programs by TSW Score. Click any row for full analysis.
| # | Program | TSW Score | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Nursing
Montana State University Billings · Billings, MT |
80
75–80 |
$72,551/yr | 50.4x |
| 2 |
Nursing
Flathead Valley Community College · Kalispell, MT |
84
79–84 |
$71,348/yr | 74.1x |
| 3 |
Nursing
Miles Community College · Miles City, MT |
80
75–81 |
$67,708/yr | 61.4x |
| 4 |
Practical Nursing
Montana State University Billings · Billings, MT |
77
76–77 |
$48,257/yr | 71.0x |
| 5 |
Nursing
Helena College University of Montana · Helena, MT |
84
78–85 |
$63,902/yr | 90.5x |
| 6 |
Nursing
The University of Montana · Missoula, MT |
77
72–77 |
$67,743/yr | 45.8x |
| 7 |
Nursing
Salish Kootenai College · Pablo, MT |
80
73–80 |
$52,607/yr | 72.3x |
| 8 |
Vehicle Repair Technology
Helena College University of Montana · Helena, MT |
71
68–72 |
$46,288/yr | 72.5x |
| 9 |
Vehicle Repair Technology
Montana State University Billings · Billings, MT |
64
63–65 |
$47,702/yr | 38.9x |
| 10 |
Welding & Metalworking
Flathead Valley Community College · Kalispell, MT |
61
60–61 |
$43,711/yr | 45.0x |
| 11 |
Electrical Repair Technology
Highlands College of Montana Tech · Butte, MT |
76
73–77 |
$63,098/yr | 221.7x |
| 12 |
Electrical Repair Technology
Montana Technological University · Butte, MT |
73
68–74 |
$63,098/yr | 109.1x |
| 13 |
Health Administration
Montana State University Billings · Billings, MT |
69
64–71 |
$34,171/yr | 50.0x |
| 14 |
Allied Health Professions
Highlands College of Montana Tech · Butte, MT |
69
66–69 |
$54,579/yr | 67.6x |
| 15 |
Welding & Metalworking
Montana State University Billings · Billings, MT |
55
55–56 |
$41,875/yr | 30.2x |
| 16 |
Allied Health Professions
Montana State University Billings · Billings, MT |
63
61–63 |
$55,736/yr | 40.6x |
| 17 |
Electromechanical Technology
Montana State University Billings · Billings, MT |
62
59–63 |
$68,144/yr | 49.8x |
| 18 |
Medical Assisting
Flathead Valley Community College · Kalispell, MT |
63
61–64 |
$38,335/yr | 38.2x |
| 19 |
Allied Health Professions
Montana Technological University · Butte, MT |
60
58–61 |
$54,579/yr | 32.9x |
| 20 |
Allied Health Professions
The University of Montana · Missoula, MT |
59
57–60 |
$52,370/yr | 31.4x |
| 21 |
Electrical Engineering Technology
Montana State University-Northern · Havre, MT |
56
48–58 |
$42,923/yr | 56.6x |
| 22 |
Liberal Arts & Humanities
Helena College University of Montana · Helena, MT |
49
48–48 |
$31,290/yr | 48.5x |
| 23 |
Liberal Arts & Humanities
Flathead Valley Community College · Kalispell, MT |
48
45–48 |
$30,079/yr | 46.2x |
| 24 |
Veterinary Technology
Pima Medical Institute-Dillon · Dillon, MT |
51
46–51 |
$37,570/yr | — |
| 25 |
Design
Montana State University · Bozeman, MT |
49
46–51 |
$36,931/yr | 21.8x |
| 26 |
Liberal Arts & Humanities
Dawson Community College · Glendive, MT |
44
40–44 |
$25,631/yr | 45.7x |
| 27 |
Cosmetology
Academy of Cosmetology Inc · Bozeman, MT |
44
41–45 |
$21,876/yr | — |
| 28 |
Liberal Arts & Humanities
Montana State University · Bozeman, MT |
42
43–42 |
$33,040/yr | 19.4x |
| 29 |
Cosmetology
Crevier's Academy of Cosmetology Arts · Kalispell, MT |
43
40–44 |
$19,079/yr | — |
| 30 |
Cosmetology
Montana Academy of Salons · Great Falls, MT |
44
40–44 |
$20,211/yr | — |
| 31 |
Liberal Arts & Humanities
The University of Montana · Missoula, MT |
40
41–40 |
$30,794/yr | 17.9x |
| 32 |
Cosmetology
Butte Academy of Beauty Culture · Butte, MT |
41
37–41 |
$9,586/yr | — |
| 33 |
Veterinary Technology
Pima Medical Institute-Dillon · Dillon, MT |
42
37–42 |
$25,369/yr | — |
About This Ranking
What we ranked
Best Trades in Montana ranks 33 programs across the United States by the TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines graduate earnings, return on investment, and job-market demand into a single 0-100 metric.
Data sources
Earnings figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, which tracks graduate income one and five years after program completion. Job-market projections use Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 employment data.
How to read the table
Use the sort controls below the headline to re-rank by earnings, ROI, or other metrics. Click any school name for full earnings projections, three-scenario modeling, and detailed program data. Most students attend a school within driving distance — local rankings are usually more actionable than national.
Caveats & limitations
Rankings reflect what the data can measure: post-graduation earnings, debt levels, and broad labor-market trends. They cannot capture program quality nuances like instructor expertise, hands-on equipment access, or industry connections. Treat rankings as a starting point — visit schools and talk to current students before committing.
Methodology
This ranking includes the top 33 trade programs at Montana schools, drawn from 33 total programs with earnings data. Programs are ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score (0–100), which combines graduate earnings, job market demand, and tuition ROI.
Only in-state tuition is used for ROI calculations. Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.