RN programs in Montana

2 RN (registered nurse) programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

2 schools offer these RN programs, and Montana has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Registered nurses provide and coordinate patient care and teach patients and their families about health conditions. To work as one, you graduate from an approved nursing program (a bachelor's or associate degree in nursing, or a hospital diploma) and pass a licensing exam for your state nursing license.¹ The exam is the NCLEX-RN from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, which the nursing boards of every state, DC and four US territories use in deciding who gets a license.²

In Montana, both programs take students without a high school diploma.

By kind, the 2 programs here are RN bachelor's degree (BSN, 1 program) and RN associate degree (ADN, 1 program).

See the 2 programs

How much do RN programs cost in Montana?

$13,882 to $30,340

from the lowest-priced program to the highest, if you pay yourself

These two programs

Finished the program: 94% to 100%
Working 6 months later: 69% to 89%
Earned a year, estimated: about $64,600 to $65,400
Length: 75 to 120 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Montana may also offer RN programs. How these figures are made

Are there free RN programs in Montana?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.³⁴⁵For a degree, the job center first looks at grants such as a federal Pell Grant; WIOA pays toward what they don't cover.⁵In program year 2024 it paid toward the training of at least 9 people at 2 of the 2 programs here.
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁶ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁵
Or pay yourself. These programs cost $13,882 to $30,340.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 2 RN programs in Montana approved for WIOA funding

2 programs

RN bachelor's degree (BSN)In personNo diploma needed
Nursing - BS
Msu - Northern
Havre
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Msu - Northern, HavreRN bachelor's degree (BSN) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$65,400
Price if you pay yourself$30,340
4 students trained with WIOA funding
Program website, Nursing - BS at Msu - Northern
More details about Nursing - BS at Msu - Northern
Finished
100%
Working at 6 months
69%
Earned in a quarter
$16,355
Length
120 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
26
Earned a year, estimated
$65,400
Price if you pay yourself
$30,340
students trained with WIOA funding
4
Program website, Nursing - BS at Msu - Northern
RN associate degree (ADN)HybridNo diploma needed
Associate of Science Registered Nursing
Helena College - University Of Montana
Helena
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Helena College - University Of Montana, HelenaRN associate degree (ADN) · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$64,600
Price if you pay yourself$13,882
5 students trained with WIOA funding
Program website, Associate of Science Registered Nursing at Helena College - University Of Montana
More details about Associate of Science Registered Nursing at Helena College - University Of Montana
Finished
94%
Working at 6 months
89%
Earned in a quarter
$16,145
Length
75 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
22
Earned a year, estimated
$64,600
Price if you pay yourself
$13,882
students trained with WIOA funding
5
Program website, Associate of Science Registered Nursing at Helena College - University Of Montana

How to pay for RN programs in Montana

WIOA funding can pay for RN programs in Montana

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for RN programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁷⁸

GI Bill for RN programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁹

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

LPN or RN in Montana?

The programs Montana approved for workforce funding in each, side by side. The figures are the typical program's, as on the two pages.

	LPN	RNthis page
Programs	2 at 1 school	2 at 2 schools
Most cost, if you pay yourself	$11,989 to $18,939	$13,882 to $30,340
Length	45 to 60 weeks	75 to 120 weeks
Finished the program	Not reported	94% to 100%
Working 6 months later	Not reported	69% to 89%
Earned a year, estimated	Not reported	about $64,600 to $65,400
Trained with WIOA funding	Not reported	at least 9 people

LPN vs RN nationwide: what each job does, the license exams and how to get from one to the other

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024. Earnings are the second quarter after leaving the program, times four.

Other training in Montana

How RN programs compare with the rest of nursing and patient care: Nursing and patient care programs in Montana

Where the Montana RN program numbers come from

Which Montana RN programs are on this list?

These are the RN programs Montana approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).¹⁰ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Montana offers.

How the prices and results of Montana RN programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about RN programs in Montana

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