Montana Technological University named #1 college in Montana by Niche.com

Montana Technological University has been named the #1 college in Montana by Niche.com, the country’s leading platform connecting students and families with colleges and schools.

The rankings utilize more than 1 million college reviews completed by real students and alumni to give an authentic, credible view into opinions about their institutions. Niche.com also takes into account data from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation to consider enrollment, tuition costs, campus crime rates and post-graduation earnings.

Niche.com gives Montana Tech an “A” grade in value and safety, and an A- in student life. The website highlights the fact that 93% of students receive financial aid, and 97% of students are employed one year after graduation, which is 6% more than the national average, and 3% more than the state average. It also lists median annual earnings of a Montana Tech grad, five years after graduation, as $73,365, compared to a national average of $45,519 and state average of $44,319.

“At Montana Tech, students can obtain an affordable, first-class education while also enjoying a campus community that prioritizes safety and well-being,” Vice Provost for Student Success and Dean of Students Joe Cooper said. “As an institution that prioritizes opportunity and innovation, we’re proud of the extraordinary career outcomes and earning potential that our graduates experience.”

Niche.com’s 2026 Best Colleges in Montana list includes #2 Montana State University, #3 University of Montana Western, and #4 University of Montana. The website also ranks Montana Tech the #1 Safest College in Montana, #1 Best Test Optional College in Montana, #1 Top Public University in Montana, and #2 for Colleges with the Best Student Life in Montana.

Student surveys collected by Niche.com indicate that 96% of Montana Tech students are confident they will find a job in their field after graduation, and 82% of students agree that the alumni network is powerful. Surveys of Montana Tech students found that 100% of the respondents felt Career Services helped them find jobs or internships.

“Montana Tech’s alumni base is truly extraordinary,” Montana Tech Foundation Vice President of Development and Philanthropic Engagement Shannon Panisko said. “Their pride in the University shines through in the many ways they support our students and programs by recruiting for internships and full-time positions, investing in scholarships that help us recruit and retain students, providing invaluable networking connections, and showing up to champion our success. Their dedication builds a powerful bridge between our past, present, and future, and it exemplifies what it means to be part of the Oredigger family.”

Montana Technological University, located in Butte, Montana, is the state’s STEM (science, engineering, technology, and math) University. The university is home to nationally and regionally ranked engineering, sciences, and health care programs. Montana Tech’s state-of-the-art facilities include the Lesar Family Nursing Simulation Center, the Underground Mine Education Center, the Electron Microscopy Laboratory, the Montana Tech Advanced Manufacturing Research Group, the Montana Tech Nanotechnology Laboratory, the Center for Advanced Materials Processing,  the Center for Environmental Remediation and Assessment, and  the Center for Energy Technologies.

Applications to Montana Tech are accepted on a rolling basis. To apply, click here.