Montana’s economy is driven by agriculture, construction, healthcare, and energy. all industries that need skilled workers. Trade schools offer short, hands-on programs to prepare students for high-demand jobs, often in less than two years. Whether you’re in Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, or rural areas, there are accredited options statewide.
Many Montana programs partner with local employers and apprenticeships, helping connect students with opportunities after graduation; timelines and outcomes vary by location and job market.
Best Trade Schools in Montana
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
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 federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Compare accredited trade schools in 9 Montana cities. Each city page lists the closest local schools with tuition, median graduate earnings, and the trades hiring nearby.
City College at MSU Billings is a top choice for welding, HVAC, diesel, and healthcare. Great Falls College MSU and Helena College also offer strong trade programs.
Are Montana community colleges considered trade schools?
Yes. Schools like FVCC, Dawson Community College, and Highlands College offer accredited, career-focused training similar to trade schools.
What trades are in demand in Montana in 2025?
Welders, HVAC techs, diesel mechanics, electricians, nurses, and construction managers are in steady demand.
Montana’s trade schools prepare students for in-demand careers through hands-on training, industry-recognized credentials, and direct employer connections.
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/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
