Hannah Pierce, BSN
June 26, 2025
Montana’s nursing education offerings span from foundational certification to advanced clinical practice, reflecting the state’s commitment to healthcare excellence across both urban centers and rural communities. Whether you’re beginning your career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), advancing from a Registered Nurse (RN) to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), pursuing licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or training to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP), Montana’s colleges, universities, and health systems provide robust curricula paired with hands‑on clinical rotations. With opportunities for in‑person practicums at facilities in Billings and Missoula, as well as flexible online coursework tailored for busy learners, these programs prepare graduates to meet the unique healthcare challenges of Big Sky Country. Graduates emerge equipped with the skills, credentials, and competitive salary prospects needed to thrive across Montana’s diverse medical settings.
Great Falls, MT - Private 4-year - uprovidence.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
The University of Providence's Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a 4-year on-campus program that integrates liberal arts with nursing education, preparing students for the NCLEX exam and diverse healthcare roles. It emphasizes compassionate, ethical care through clinical experiences and a state-of-the-art simulation facility. Admission requires a minimum GPA of 3.0, with direct entry or pre-nursing options, and financial aid is available. This bachelor's program does not specify ACT or SAT requirements, focusing instead on academic performance for entry.
Butte, MT - Public 4-Year - mtech.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
Montana Technological University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing is CCNE accredited, providing a premier education with nearly 1,000 clinical hours in diverse healthcare settings. Students gain hands-on experience through state-of-the-art simulation labs, preparing them for RN licensure with high career placement rates. The comprehensive curriculum emphasizes practical learning and opportunities for advanced study, requiring no specific entrance exam as it's a bachelor's program without mention of ACT/SAT requirements.
Bozeman, MT - Public 4-Year - montana.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
Montana State University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program offers a comprehensive education with a strong emphasis on hands-on clinical experience across five campus locations in Montana. It requires a 3.0 GPA in prerequisite courses, including Anatomy & Physiology, and features a Direct Entry option for Montana high school graduates with no grades below C-. The program boasts an impressive 92.05% first-time NCLEX pass rate, reflecting its high quality. As a bachelor's level program, it may require ACT or SAT entrance exams, though specifics should be verified with the university.
Helena, MT - Private 4-year - carroll.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
Carroll College's BSN program in Helena integrates liberal arts with clinical training, preparing students for the NCLEX and diverse healthcare roles. It meets Montana licensure requirements and is Nurse Licensure Compact eligible, facilitating practice in multiple states. Emphasizing hands-on experience, leadership, and management, the program readies graduates for immediate employment. Scholarships and financial aid are available to support students. As a bachelor's level program, it may require ACT or SAT entrance exams for admission.
Billings, MT - Public 4-Year - msubillings.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
Montana State University Billings provides an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program on campus, equipping students for careers as Registered Nurses. It integrates advanced technology with practical clinical training in patient care, health promotion, and disease prevention. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. Admission is competitive and necessitates completion of prerequisites; no ACT or SAT is required for this associate-level program. Accredited by NLN CNEA and approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing, it offers strong job prospects with a median wage of $59,900 in Montana and diverse employment opportunities.
Montana’s CNA offerings deliver six to twelve weeks of training focused on patient‑safety protocols, infection control, and basic care techniques, alongside clinical practicums in varied settings. Participants gain hands‑on experience assisting with mobility, hygiene, and nutrition support, while learning to monitor and report vital signs. Once certified, CNAs support care teams across hospitals, nursing homes, and rural clinics. Their presence is key to sustaining patient well‑being in widely dispersed communities.
Montana’s RN to BSN offerings merge flexible online learning in leadership, rural and community health, informatics and policy with hands‑on practicums in frontier hospitals and regional clinics. Available in both part‑time and accelerated tracks, these bridge programs let RNs continue working while they complete their bachelor’s degree. Earning a BSN hones critical‑thinking and care coordination skills, meets accreditation and employer standards for degree‑prepared nurses, and unlocks opportunities in management, specialty certification and public health roles across Montana’s varied landscapes.
Montana’s Nurse Practitioner programs build upon a BSN by combining advanced graduate coursework with extensive supervised clinical practicums, typically spanning two to four years, in specialties such as family practice, pediatrics, and psychiatric-mental health. Offered through flexible online, hybrid, and on-campus formats at institutions like the University of Montana and Montana State University, these MSN and DNP pathways prepare nurses for APRN certification and state licensure. Graduates step into crucial roles as primary care providers, chronic disease coordinators, and telehealth clinicians in frontier hospitals, rural community clinics, and tribal health centers. By bringing high-level nursing expertise to sparsely populated regions, NP programs are vital to strengthening Montana’s healthcare resilience.
| Degree | Typical Length | Prerequisites | Outcome / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) | ~2 years | High school diploma or GED | Most common entry route, especially critical for rural and frontier areas |
| RN Diploma | 2-3 years | High school diploma or GED | No longer offered in Montana |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) | 4 years (12-18 months accelerated) | High school diploma or ADN transfer | BSN-in-10 state, RN-to-BSN programs often online to support rural nurses |
| Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) | 2 years (post-BSN) | BSN + RN license | Prepares for advanced roles, NPs have full practice authority statewide |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) | 3-6 years (post-BSN or post-MSN) | BSN or MSN + RN license | Highest degree, DNP-prepared NPs also practice independently statewide |
Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website