Montana Technological University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Computer Science Programs in Helena, MT (2026)
Helena, Montana has 4 accredited schools offering computer science 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 computer science-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $130,230 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Computer Science Schools to Helena
The 4 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 4 schools in our directory that offer computer science 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--
Great Falls College 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 computer science page.
Computer Science 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $99,370 | Helena, MT | $103,835 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $79,700 | Helena, MT | $83,281 |
| Computer Network Architect | $107,700 | Helena, MT | $112,539 |
| Database Administrator | $83,120 | Helena, MT | $86,855 |
| Database Architect | $109,990 | MT statewide | $114,932 |
| Information Security Analyst | $81,950 | Helena, MT | $85,632 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $62,440 | Helena, MT | $65,246 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $63,250 | Helena, MT | $66,092 |
| Web Developer | $62,060 | MT statewide | $64,848 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designer | $77,030 | MT statewide | $80,491 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $130,230 | Helena, MT | $136,082 |
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 |
| Computer Science-related employment in Lewis and Clark County | 558 workers, 193 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Helena-Area Cities With Computer Science 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 computer science schools are near Helena, MT?
Our directory has 4 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Helena. The closest is Montana Technological University in Butte, MT (47.8 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 computer science roles near Helena?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Helena are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($130,230), Database Architect ($109,990), Computer Network Architect ($107,700). 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 computer science 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 computer science?
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 Computer Science Programs
- Computer Science accreditation: what to look for
- Computer Science concentrations and specializations
- Is a Computer Science degree worth it?
- Main Computer Science degree guide
- Online Computer Science programs in Montana
- Computer Science 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.
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