Nursing Degree Programs in Bozeman, MT (2026)

Quick answer: The Bozeman metro employs about 1,070 registered nurses (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through your state board of nursing.

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Every state licenses registered nurses through its own board of nursing. The national constants are the degree (an ADN or BSN from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program) and the NCLEX-RN examination administered through NCSBN. Many states also participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact, which can allow practice across member states on one multistate license.

See the Montana licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state board of nursing.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 10 schools within 208 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Carroll College

Helena, MT 79.1 miles away BOC Score 66.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 67.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 1
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $59,396 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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#3

University of Providence

Great Falls, MT 125.3 miles away BOC Score 53.6
Tuition $30,448 - $43,477
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 50.3%
  • Graduation rate: 35.5%
  • Programs offered: 10
  • Annual completions: 57
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $88,535 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Salish Kootenai College

Pablo, MT 196.3 miles away BOC Score 53.5
Tuition $4,311 - $13,047
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 32.0%
  • Programs offered: 10
  • Annual completions: 16
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $52,164 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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#5

Montana State University

Bozeman, MT 1.1 miles away BOC Score 51.3
Tuition $8,460 - $33,287
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 82.1%
  • Graduation rate: 57.2%
  • Programs offered: 36
  • Annual completions: 582
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $65,157 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Helena College University of Montana

Helena, MT 78.1 miles away BOC Score 50.2
Tuition $4,146 - $15,819
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 36.7%
  • Programs offered: 21
  • Annual completions: 245
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $50,913 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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#7

Great Falls College Montana State University

Great Falls, MT 125.0 miles away BOC Score 45.7
Tuition $4,028 - $16,664
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 33.0%
  • Programs offered: 22
  • Annual completions: 311
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $48,830 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Montana State University-Northern

Havre, MT 207.7 miles away BOC Score 44.0
Tuition $6,982 - $21,875
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 41.8%
  • Programs offered: 13
  • Annual completions: 166
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $60,505 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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#9

The University of Montana

Missoula, MT 161.8 miles away BOC Score 43.8
Tuition $8,552 - $33,671
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 95.9%
  • Graduation rate: 46.6%
  • Programs offered: 70
  • Annual completions: 859
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $50,928 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Montana State University Billings

Billings, MT 122.3 miles away BOC Score 33.7
Tuition $7,280 - $22,897
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 29.1%
  • Programs offered: 32
  • Annual completions: 258
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,549 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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What Registered Nurses Earn in Bozeman

Registered Nurses in the Bozeman area earn a median $99,310 per year, above the national median of $97,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Nursing Pay in Bozeman, MT

MetricBozeman metroMontanaNational
Median annual wage$99,310$85,280$97,550
10th percentile$80,810$70,120$68,940
25th percentile$85,450$80,210$80,330
75th percentile$99,880$100,800$112,350
90th percentile$120,260$113,920$137,470
Employment1,07010,9503,379,720
Location quotient0.68-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Bozeman, MT metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Bozeman median of $99,310 is above the national median of $97,550, and above the Montana statewide median of $85,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 0.68 means registered nurses are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Nursing is the one degree on this site where the training itself is geographically anchored: clinical rotations are completed in local hospitals and clinics, so program availability tracks the local health system.

Other Montana Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Billings$82,3002,550
Missoula$82,1601,570
Helena$98,690990
Great Falls$78,290880

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do registered nurses make in Bozeman?

The median annual wage for registered nurses in the Bozeman, MT metro area is $99,310, above the national median of $97,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many registered nurses work in the Bozeman area?

The Bozeman, MT metro area employs about 1,070 registered nurses (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do registered nurses in Bozeman need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Every state licenses registered nurses through its own board of nursing. The national constants are the degree (an ADN or BSN from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program) and the NCLEX-RN examination administered through NCSBN. Many states also participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact, which can allow practice across member states on one multistate license. Confirm current requirements with your state board of nursing.

Can I study nursing online from Bozeman?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state board of nursing.

Is Bozeman a better market than the rest of Montana?

The Bozeman metro median is $99,310 against a statewide median of $85,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.