The University of Montana
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Nursing Programs in Missoula, MT (2026)
Missoula, Montana has 4 accredited schools offering nursing programs. Missoula has a population of about 75,600. Median household income is $65,329 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 51.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Montana, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $277,380 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Nursing Schools to Missoula
The 4 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 4 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Missoula. Distances are calculated from Missoula 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 Missoula. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Flathead Valley Community College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Helena College University of Montana
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Highlands College of Montana Tech
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Montana schools on the Montana nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Missoula
Missoula is part of the Missoula, MT metro area (BLS area code 33540). 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $82,160 | Missoula, MT | $85,228 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $63,130 | Missoula, MT | $65,488 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $277,380 | MT statewide | $287,739 |
| Nurse Midwife | N/A | MT statewide | – |
| Nurse Practitioner | $131,650 | Missoula, MT | $136,566 |
| Nursing Assistant | $38,550 | Missoula, MT | $39,990 |
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.
Missoula at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 75,600 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $65,329 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 51.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 96.4 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Missoula-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Butte, MT – 92.8 mi away (30,584 pop)
- Kalispell, MT – 94.2 mi away (36,304 pop)
- Helena, MT – 96.1 mi away (49,812 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Missoula, MT?
Our directory has 4 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Missoula. The closest is The University of Montana in Missoula, MT (0.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Highlands College of Montana Tech (96.8 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Missoula?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Missoula are: Nurse Anesthetist ($277,380), Nurse Practitioner ($131,650), Registered Nurse ($82,160). 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 Missoula?
Butte, MT is 92.8 miles from Missoula and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Missoula an affordable place to study nursing?
Missoula’s median household income of $65,329 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Missoula 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 Nursing Programs
- Nursing accreditation: what to look for
- Nursing concentrations and specializations
- Is a Nursing degree worth it?
- Main Nursing degree guide
- Online Nursing programs in Montana
- Nursing programs by state
Other Programs Available in Missoula
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Missoula:
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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.