NP or nurse practioner programs are for registered nurses who would like to become advanced practice nurses or APNs. Other APNs include the CRNA, the CNS and the CNM. All of these nurses have earned master’s degreee, the difference has to do with [...]
Nursing Schools in Montana
With a scant population of just under 1 million, it’s no big surprise that there are only a handful of nursing schools in Montana to practice in the state’s 20 hospitals and a few nursing care facilities. But that doesn’t mean this sparsely populated state doesn’t hold promise for aspiring nurses.
The truth is, registered nurses are in demand and can lead rewarding careers in this state known as the Big Sky Country. At present, the nursing work force is comprised of more than 8,000 nurses but the state will certainly need more than this number in the next few years as the population ages.
With the state’s massive land area, those in rural communities may find it tough to study at any of the campus-based nursing schools in Montana. In such cases, online nursing programs are viable options. Most nurses here enter the field with a 2-year associate degree (ADN) and while that is a good place to start as any, Montana could use more registered nurses with baccalaureate degrees (BSN) and those with graduate degrees in nursing anesthesia (CRNA), nurse practitioner (NP), and nurse midwifery (CNM).
For anyone looking to start a nursing career in a place far from the hustle and bustle of big city life, Montana would be a good choice with its grand mountains, expansive grasslands, and serene lakes. But there’s more to this state than its rugged beauty. Nurses can earn a good living here too. A staff nurse in Billings, Montana’s largest city, can earn anywhere from $50,000 to $66,000. Nurses in specialty areas earn more: for a nurse practitioner, the salary could range from $66,000 to $78,000 annually, while a certified nurse anesthetist has the potential to earn $119,000 to $137,000. For graduates of Montana nursing schools and RNs interested to relocate here, information for state licensure can be obtained from the Montana Board of Nursing.
Employment: 8,340
Hourly Mean Wage: $27.10
Annual Mean Wage: $56,380
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
State Nursing Board: Montana Board of Nursing
State Nurses Association: Montana Nurses Association
State Hospital Association: MHA: An Association of Health Care Providers
Montana Nursing Schools
| School Name: Carroll College Address: 1601 N Benton Ave, Helena, Montana 59625-0002 Contact: (406) 447-4300 Website: www.carroll.edu Type of School: 4-year, Private not-for-profit Program Types: Bachelor of Science in Nursing Accreditation: CCNE accredited |
| School Name: Flathead Valley Community College Address: 777 Grandview Dr, Kalispell, Montana 59901 Contact: (406) 756-3822 Website: www.fvcc.edu Type of School: 2-year, Public Program Types: LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
| School Name: Miles Community College Address: 2715 Dickinson Street, Miles City, Montana 59301-4774 Contact: (800) 541-9281 Website: www.milescc.edu/ Type of School: 2-year, Public Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, LPN to ADN Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
| School Name: Montana State University Address: Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717 Contact: (406) 994-0211 Website: www.montana.edu/ Type of School: 4-year, Public Programs Offered: Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree; Post-master’s certificate Accreditation: N/A |
| School Name: Montana State University-Billings-College of Technology Address: 3803 Central Ave, Billings, Montana 59102-9856 Contact: (406) 247-3000 Website: www.msubillings.edu/cot/ Type of School: 2-year, Public Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
| School Name: Montana State University-Great Falls College of Technology Address: 2100 16th Ave S, Great Falls, Montana 59405 Contact: (406) 771-4300 Website: www.msugf.edu Type of School: 2-year, Public Program Types: Less than one year certificate; One but less than two years certificate; Associate’s degree Accreditation: N/A |
| School Name: Montana State University-Bozeman Address: Bozeman, MT Program Types: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, LPN to BSN, Masters in Nursing, Second Degree BSN ONLINE PROGRAMS OFFERED Accreditation: CCNE accredited |
| School Name: Montana State University-Northern Address: 300 W 11th St, Havre, Montana 59501 Contact: (406) 265-3700 Website: www.msun.edu Type of School: 4-year, Public Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, LPN to ADN, RN to BSN Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
| School Name: Montana Tech of the University of Montana Address: 1300 W Park St, Butte, Montana 59701-8997 Contact: (406) 496-4101 Website: www.mtech.edu Type of School: 4-year, Public Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, LPN/LVN Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
| School Name: Salish Kootenai College Address: 58138 US Highway 93, Pablo, Montana 59855 Contact: (406) 275-4800 Website: www.skc.edu Type of School: 4-year, primarily associate’s, Private not-for-profit Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, LPN to ADN, LPN/LVN, RN to BSN Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
| School Name: The University of Montana Address: Missoula, Montana 59812 Contact: (406) 243-0211 Website: www.umt.edu Type of School: 4-year, Public Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
| School Name: University of Montana-Helena College of Technology Address: 1115 N Roberts Street, Helena, Montana 59601 Contact: (406) 444-6800 Website: www.umhelena.edu Type of School: 2-year, Public Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, LPN to ADN, LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
