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Ten Years of Online Education: The Bumpy Road to Better Days

Monday June 17, 2013

How to Overcome Being a Negative Online Student Stereotype

Thursday June 13, 2013

Find the “Grit” to Succeed as an Online Student

Thursday June 6, 2013

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Montana’s higher education system is comprised of six public universities, four private universities and colleges, and 12 public community and technical colleges. Montana has two large college systems. The first is the University of Montana System, which consists of four campuses. Part of this system, the University of Montana is perhaps the most prestigious university in the state. It is ranked 194th in the nation on U.S. News and World Report’s Best National Universities list. It is the state’s biggest university, with some 15,669 enrolled students according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

The second of Montana’s large college systems is the Montana State University System, which includes four universities. Belonging to this system is Montana State University – Bozeman; it is the second largest university in the state and has an enrollment of 13,671 students, according to the NCES. Founded in 1893, it offers students the option of 60 bachelor’s degree, 43 master’s degree, and 20 doctoral degree programs.

The Lumina Foundation founded its Big Goal 2025 in an effort to encourage states to take action and collaborate to increase the national average of Americans with degrees to 60% by 2025. As such, this nonprofit foundation completed policy briefs of each U.S. state. Montana’s policy brief demonstrates that the state is right in line with national averages; 38% of Montana adults aged 25-64 hold at least an associate degree while the national average for this same age bracket is 38.3%. However, for Montana to reach the Lumina Foundations 60% goal, it must increase the number of undergraduate degrees conferred to its citizens by 826 each year leading up to 2025. To do this, the foundation recommends the following strategies to Montana:

• Urge the 135,000 Montanans with some college experience but no degree to finish their degrees.
• Increase college success for working adults, minorities, low-income groups, and new U.S. Montanans.
• Pinpoint geographic areas known to fall behind in terms of postsecondary education and strategically encourage them to seek such education.

One of Montana’s best colleges online is the University of Montana. Aside from its many traditional degree programs, it offers associate and master’s degrees, bachelor’s degree minors, as well as endorsement and certificate programs, all completely online. Another of the best Montana colleges online is Montana State University. It presents online learners the options of an undergraduate completion program, about 10 master’s degree programs, and several graduate certificate programs. Montana State University – Billings is also one of Montana’s best colleges online. Its online selection includes eight bachelor’s degree programs, two of which have nine concentration options, five associate degree programs, and five master’s degree programs.

The University of Montana
City Missoula	Accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Online Degree Levels Certificate, Associate, Master’s	General Subject Areas w/ Online Degrees Energy Technology, Education, Public Administration, Public Health
Undergrad Tuition $279.10 per credit (tuition+ fees)	Undergrad Out of State Tuition $579.90 per credit (tuition + fees)
Graduate Tuition $279.10 per credit (tuition + fees)	Graduate Out of State Tuition $579.90 per credit (tuition + fees)

Montana State University
City Bozeman	Accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Online Degree Levels Bachelor’s, Master’s, Graduate Certificates	General Subject Areas w/ Online Degrees Degree Completion, Counseling, Science, Education, Nursing, Science and Engineering Management, Financial Planning, Mathematics
Undergrad Tuition $265.45 per credit	Undergrad Out of State Tuition $487.55 per credit
Graduate Tuition $2,600 per semester	Graduate Out of State Tuition $7,375 per semester

Montana State University-Billings
City Billings	Accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Online Degree Levels Certificate, Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s	General Subject Areas w/ Online Degrees Business, Management, Communications, Health Administration, Liberal Studies, Public Relations, Education, Applied Science
Undergrad Tuition $430.90 per credit	Undergrad Out of State Tuition $610 per credit
Graduate Tuition $465.80 per credit	Graduate Out of State Tuition $679.80 per credit

University of Great Falls
City Great Falls	Accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Online Degree Levels Associate, Bachelor’s Master’s	General Subject Areas w/ Online Degrees Criminal Justice, Psychology Paralegal Studies, Education, Organizational Management
Undergrad Tuition $607.00 per credit hour	Undergrad Out of State Tuition NA
Graduate Tuition $630.00 per credit hour	Graduate Out of State Tuition NA

Montana Tech of the University of Montana
City Butte	Accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Online Degree Levels Undergraduate Certificates, Master’s, Graduate Certificate	General Subject Areas w/ Online Degrees Health Care Informatics, Industrial Hygiene, Project Engineering and Management
Undergrad Tuition $99.15 per credit	Undergrad Out of State Tuition $153.83 per credit
Graduate Tuition $241.78 per credit	Graduate Out of State Tuition $241.78 per credit

Montana State University-Great Falls College of Technology
City Great Falls	Accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Online Degree Levels Certificate, Associate Degree	General Subject Areas w/ Online Degrees Healthcare Informatics Technology, Business Administration, Health Information Technology, Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Transcription
Undergrad Tuition $104 per credit	Undergrad Out of State Tuition $260.48 per credit
Graduate Tuition NA	Graduate Out of State Tuition NA

Montana Tech-College of Technology
City Butte	Accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Online Degree Levels Certificate, Master’s	General Subject Areas w/ Online Degrees Health Care Informatics, Industrial Hygiene, Project Engineering & Management
Undergrad Tuition NA	Undergrad Out of State Tuition NA
Graduate Tuition $309.66 per credit hour	Graduate Out of State Tuition $241.79 per credit hour

The University of Montana-Western
City Dillon	Accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Online Degree Levels Bachelor’s, Masters	General Subject Areas w/ Online Degrees Programs include Business and Professional; Healthcare and Fitness; Hospitality and Gaming; IT and Software Development; Management and Corporate; Media and Design; Skilled Trades and Industrial; Sustainable Energy and Going Green.
Undergrad Tuition Freshman/Sophomore: $1,545 per semester Junior/Senior: $2,154 per semster	Undergrad Out of State Tuition Freshman/Sophomore: $6,669 per semester Junior/Senior: $6,863.40 per semster
Graduate Tuition NA	Graduate Out of State Tuition NA

Montana State University-Northern
City Havre	Accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Online Degree Levels Associate, Bachelor’s	General Subject Areas w/ Online Degrees Nursing, Business, Education
Undergrad Tuition Lower Classmen: $270.60 per credit Upper Classmen: $302.67 per credit	Undergrad Out of State Tuition Lower Classmen: $639.42 per credit Upper Classmen: $725.49 per credit
Graduate Tuition $338.75 per credit	Graduate Out of State Tuition $761.57 per credit

Dawson Community College
City Glendive	Accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Online Degree Levels Associate	General Subject Areas w/ Online Degrees Business Management, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Law Enforcement
Undergrad Tuition $136.40 per credit hour	Undergrad Out of State Tuition $136.40 per credit hour
Graduate Tuition NA	Graduate Out of State Tuition NA