2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana

About

First-year retention rates measure the percentage of first-year students who come back to campus for a second year. This is an indicator of how happy students are generally with their decision to attend that institution as less students decide to drop out or transfer to another school.

Sort by:

View as:

Rank	Institution	First Year Retention Rate	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Carroll College	80.6	72.64	1,110 – 1,310	26103	43507	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana Carroll College Helena, MT Though the school seal features two lions, Carroll College’s mascot is actually a St. Bernard named Halo. Student athletes compete as the Fighting Saints in Football, Basketball, and Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), among others....Read more First Year Retention Rate 81 % Acceptance Rate 72.6% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $26,103 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,507
2	Montana State University	78.5	82.14	1,080 – 1,290	18511	44757	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana Montana State University Bozeman, MT “Mountains and Mines” is the motto of Montana State University. In the last admissions cycle, the school received 21,700 applications and accepted 82% of them. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Business/Commerce, General, and Mechanical Engineering are the most popular undergraduate majors....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % 0.8% Acceptance Rate 82.1% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $18,511 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,757
3	The University of Montana	74.8	95.86	1,080 – 1,290	17775	35729	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana The University of Montana Missoula, MT Located along the Clark Fork River, The University of Montana's Grizzlies and Lady Griz compete in the NCAA Division I-FCS Big Sky Conference. Alumni include Colin Meloy, J.K. Simmons, and Carroll O’Connor, as well as numerous professional athletes, scientists, and politicians. First Year Retention Rate 75 % 1.6% Acceptance Rate 95.9% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $17,775 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,729
4	Montana Technological University	72	89.9	1,020 – 1,230	15866	48356	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana Montana Technological University Butte, MT Montana Technological University’s motto “De Re Metallica,” or “Of the metals,” pays homage to the school’s original name – the Montana School of Mines. The school’s seal features mining tools as well. The Orediggers wear green and copper, and athletes could be eligible for athletic scholarships. First Year Retention Rate 72 % Acceptance Rate 89.9% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $15,866 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,356
5	The University of Montana-Western	71	99.5	890 – 1,090	15726	37252	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana The University of Montana-Western Dillon, MT Based in Dillon, The University of Montana-Western’s acceptance rate is 100% and requests $30 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 44% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % Acceptance Rate 99.5% SAT Score 890 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $15,726 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,252
6	University of Providence	71	50.28	830 – 1,140	21175	37734	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana University of Providence Great Falls, MT Located in Great Falls, the University of Providence accepted 50% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They require unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 97% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. At the University of Providence, there is a 71% first year......Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 50.3% SAT Score 830 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $21,175 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,734
7	Rocky Mountain College	69	69.61	970 – 1,180	19173	41783	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana Rocky Mountain College Billings, MT Rocky Mountain College is a fairly selective school. During the last admissions cycle, it received 1,410 applications and accepted 1,000. Athletes are known as the Battlin’ Bears and, wearing forest green and Vegas gold, they compete in Football, Basketball, and Soccer, among other sports. First Year Retention Rate 69 % 7.8% Acceptance Rate 69.6% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $19,173 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,783
8	Montana State University-Northern	57.96	95.62	890 – 1,090	11789	45045	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana Montana State University-Northern Havre, MT Based in Havre, Montana State University-Northern accepts 96% of applicants and requests $30 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 45% of students attending Montana State University-Northern will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 58 % Acceptance Rate 95.6% SAT Score 890 – 1,090 Avg. Net Price $11,789 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,045
9	Montana State University Billings	55.56	99.91	930 – 1,140	13252	39531	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana Montana State University Billings Billings, MT Based in Billings, Montana State University Billings accepted 100% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications. About 74% of students at Montana State University Billings currently receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year retention rate......Read more First Year Retention Rate 56 % 0.0% Acceptance Rate 99.9% SAT Score 930 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $13,252 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,531
10	Aaniiih Nakoda College	0	72.64	--	10527	19990	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana Aaniiih Nakoda College Harlem, MT First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 72.6% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $10,527 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $19,990
11	Blackfeet Community College	0	74.49	--	4622	59213	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana Blackfeet Community College Browning, MT First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 74.5% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $4,622 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,213
12	Salish Kootenai College	0	72.88	--	9551	28894	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana Salish Kootenai College Pablo, MT First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 72.9% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $9,551 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $28,894
13	Stone Child College	0	0	--	6359	50863	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana Stone Child College Box Elder, MT First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $6,359 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,863

School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.

2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana

81 %

72.6%

1,110 – 1,310

$26,103

$43,507

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana

79 % 0.8%

82.1%

1,080 – 1,290

$18,511

$44,757

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana

75 % 1.6%

95.9%

1,080 – 1,290

$17,775

$35,729

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana

72 %

89.9%

1,020 – 1,230

$15,866

$48,356

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana

71 %

99.5%

890 – 1,090

$15,726

$37,252

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana

71 % 0.0%

50.3%

830 – 1,140

$21,175

$37,734

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana

69 % 7.8%

69.6%

970 – 1,180

$19,173

$41,783

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana

58 %

95.6%

890 – 1,090

$11,789

$45,045

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana

56 % 0.0%

99.9%

930 – 1,140

$13,252

$39,531

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana

--

72.6%

--

$10,527

$19,990

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana

--

74.5%

--

$4,622

$59,213

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana

--

72.9%

--

$9,551

$28,894

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Montana

--

--

--

$6,359

79 %
0.8%

75 %
1.6%

71 %
0.0%

69 %
7.8%

56 %
0.0%