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Central Ave and Civic Center 2Photo: Montanabw · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Great Falls

Great Falls is home to two colleges, with 1,227 students on campus

Great Falls College Montana State University (809 students on campus) and the University of Providence (418) are inside the city. About 5% of Great Falls’ residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Montana (5%).

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Great Falls. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
2
1,227 students on campus
Nearest college
1.6 mi
University of Providence
Residents in college
5%
About the same as MT (5%)
Nearest community college
1.8 mi
Great Falls College Montana State · $4,028 tuition
Nearest public university
85.7 mi
Stone Child College · $3,610 in-state
Median household income
$63K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Great Falls

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university in Great FallsThe University of Providence has 418 students on campus in Great Falls, 28% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 1.8 miles awayGreat Falls College Montana State University in Great Falls: tuition and fees $4,028 a year for Montana residents.In-state price at Stone Child CollegeLiving in Montana, Stone Child College charges $3,610 in tuition and fees, the same for every student.Students are 5% of residentsAbout the same as Montana (5%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Great Falls

One private college within 1.6 miles, and Great Falls College Montana State University 1.8 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Stone Child College, is 85.7 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miGreat Falls College Montana StateUniversity of ProvidenceGreat Falls
University or collegeCommunity college
University of ProvidenceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 418 on campus · In Great Falls50%admitted$18knet price28%graduate$48kearningsGreat Falls College Montana State UniversityCommunity college · Public · 809 on campus · In Great Falls$12knet price34%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $4,028 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Great Falls’ median household income ($63,373) falls.

Stone Child College85.7 mi · Box Elder · sticker $15,570$8,579a year
Great Falls College Montana State UniversityIn Great Falls · sticker $16,664 · tuition $4,028$11,778a year
University of ProvidenceIn Great Falls · sticker $43,477$16,802a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of ProvidenceGreat Falls College Montana StateStone Child College
Great Falls College Montana State University34% graduate$38k earnings
University of Providence28% graduate$48k earnings$19k typical debt
Stone Child College34% graduate$25k earnings

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Great Falls

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Great Falls’ 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 43%Precision production 16%Liberal arts 13%Business 7%Computer science 3%Agriculture 3%Everything else 15%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of Providence · 71 graduates a year
$119k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesGreat Falls College Montana State University · 49 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsGreat Falls College Montana State University · 25 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied ProfessionsGreat Falls College Montana State University · 22 graduates a year
$74k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingGreat Falls College Montana State University · 21 graduates a year
$69k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsUniversity of Providence · 15 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesGreat Falls College Montana State University · 10 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related ServicesGreat Falls College Montana State University · 10 graduates a year
$36k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Great Falls

Is Great Falls a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Great Falls residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Montana (5). The largest campus in the city, Great Falls College Montana State University, has 809 students on campus.

What colleges are in Great Falls?

Great Falls College Montana State University and the University of Providence are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Great Falls, and what does it cost?

Great Falls College Montana State University in Great Falls, 1.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,028 a year for Montana residents; the federal net price, $12,468, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Stone Child College cost if we live in Montana?

Tuition and fees are $3,610 a year in-state and $3,610 from out of state.

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Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Great Falls. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →