Best Public Policy Schools Near Kalispell, MT (2026)

Updated September 5, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Kalispell, Montana has 1 accredited school offering public policy programs, with tuition ranging from $8,552 to $33,671 per year for indexed programs. Kalispell has a population of about 26,830. Median household income is $61,590 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Montana, the top-earning public policy-related role is Financial and Investment Analysts at a median $99,190 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Public Policy Schools to Kalispell

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer public policy programs near Kalispell, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Kalispell city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

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 Kalispell. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

The University of Montana

Missoula, MT 95.1 miles from Kalispell
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
43.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 96%
Graduation rate 47%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $44,511
Avg net price $16,784/yr
Tuition
In‑state$8,552
Out‑of‑state$33,671
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 152

Source:Accreditor: Northwest Commission on Colleges and UniversitiesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Montana schools on the Montana public policy page.

Public Policy Wages Near Kalispell

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Montana, statewide)
Political Scientists N/A
Management Analysts $97,470
Economists $89,340
Social and Community Service Managers $73,640
Survey Researchers N/A
Compliance Officers $66,660
General and Operations Managers $91,380
Financial and Investment Analysts $99,190

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.

Kalispell at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 26,830 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $61,590 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 32.9% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Kalispell-Area Cities With Public Policy Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited public policy schools are near Kalispell, MT?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering public policy programs near Kalispell. The closest is The University of Montana in Missoula, MT (95.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is The University of Montana (95.1 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying public policy roles in Montana?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying public policy-related roles in Montana are: Financial and Investment Analysts ($99,190), Management Analysts ($97,470), General and Operations Managers ($91,380). Wages for Kalispell workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Missoula instead of Kalispell?

Missoula, MT is 94.2 miles from Kalispell and has its own set of local public policy programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Kalispell an affordable place to study public policy?

Kalispell’s median household income of $61,590 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Kalispell 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 Public Policy Programs

Other Programs Available in Kalispell

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Kalispell:

Data verified: September 5, 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.

Back to Best Public Policy Schools in Montana: Online Programs (2026)