Helena College University of Montana
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Accounting Programs in Helena, MT (2026)
Helena, Montana has 4 accredited schools offering accounting programs. Helena has a population of about 33,126. Median household income is $69,341 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 50.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Helena, MT metro area, the top-earning accounting-related role is Financial Manager at a median $133,360 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Accounting Schools to Helena
The 4 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 4 schools in our directory that offer accounting programs near Helena. Distances are calculated from Helena city center.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Helena. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Highlands College of Montana Tech
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--
Montana State University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
The University of Montana
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Montana schools on the Montana accounting page.
Accounting Wages Near Helena
Helena is part of the Helena, MT metro area (BLS area code 25740). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Montana statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant and Auditor | $76,700 | Helena, MT | $80,146 |
| Financial Manager | $133,360 | Helena, MT | $139,352 |
| Financial Analyst | $103,350 | Helena, MT | $107,994 |
| Budget Analyst | $79,700 | Helena, MT | $83,281 |
| Tax Preparer | $59,170 | Helena, MT | $61,829 |
| Tax Examiner and Collector | $63,610 | Helena, MT | $66,468 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk | $45,870 | Helena, MT | $47,931 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Helena at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,126 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $69,341 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 50.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 95.7 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Accounting-related employment in Lewis and Clark County | 245 workers, 76 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Helena-Area Cities With Accounting Programs
- Butte, MT – 56.8 mi away (30,584 pop)
- Great Falls, MT – 71.2 mi away (65,960 pop)
- Bozeman, MT – 78.2 mi away (52,391 pop)
- Missoula, MT – 96.1 mi away (89,017 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited accounting schools are near Helena, MT?
Our directory has 4 accredited schools offering accounting programs near Helena. The closest is Helena College University of Montana in Helena, MT (0.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is The University of Montana (95.5 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying accounting roles near Helena?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying accounting-related roles near Helena are: Financial Manager ($133,360), Financial Analyst ($103,350), Budget Analyst ($79,700). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Montana statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Butte instead of Helena?
Butte, MT is 56.8 miles from Helena and has its own set of local accounting programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Helena an affordable place to study accounting?
Helena’s median household income of $69,341 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Helena while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Montana public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Accounting Programs
- Accounting accreditation: what to look for
- Accounting concentrations and specializations
- Is a Accounting degree worth it?
- Main Accounting degree guide
- Online Accounting programs in Montana
- Accounting programs by state
Other Programs Available in Helena
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Helena:
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Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.