Montana’s three accelerated BSN programs each target a different type of student.
Montana State University is the clear choice for Montana residents seeking the lowest tuition and the flexibility of five campus locations statewide.
Carroll College is the only program that accepts applicants with an associate degree instead of a bachelor’s degree and offers a $30,000 forgivable loan through Benefis Health System.
University of Providence combines mostly online coursework with small cohorts and the state’s highest published NCLEX pass rate, making it attractive for working healthcare professionals and students outside Montana’s largest cities.
Because there are only three programs, your decision usually comes down to degree requirements, location, learning format, and cost rather than trying to compare dozens of similar schools.
Montana ABSN Programs at a Glance
| School | Location(s) | Est. Cost | Duration | Min. GPA | NCLEX Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Billings, Bozeman Great Falls, Kalispell, Missoula | $28K | 12 months | 3.0 | 90.1% (2025) | |
Lewistown, Great Falls | $48K | 12 months | Not published | 96.43% (2024) | |
Helena | $55K–$63K | 15 months | 3.0 | Not published |
Best Montana ABSN Programs by Goal
- Lowest cost for Montana residents: Montana State University — ~$28,806 in-state tuition and fees across 56 credits
- Best published NCLEX outcomes: University of Providence — 96.43% first-time NCLEX pass rate (2024)
- Widest statewide geographic access: Montana State University — five campuses across Montana
- Online or mostly online format: University of Providence — mostly online didactic coursework with in-person skills labs and clinicals
- No bachelor’s degree required: Carroll College — the only Montana ABSN that accepts students with an associate degree
- Healthcare professional discount: University of Providence
- Fewest prerequisites required: University of Providence — only five prerequisites
How to Choose the Best Program for You
Best Programs by Student Type
You’re a Montana resident looking for the lowest tuition
Montana State University – Lowest in-state tuition by a wide margin, five campus locations, and strong statewide clinical partnerships make MSU the value leader.
You have an associate degree instead of a bachelor’s degree
Carroll College – The only Montana ABSN that accepts an associate degree for admission while also offering a $30,000 forgivable loan through Benefis Health System.
You’re a working healthcare professional
University of Providence – Mostly online coursework, small cohorts, and discounted tuition for eligible healthcare professionals make Providence the easiest program to balance with an existing healthcare career.
You plan to work in rural Montana
Carroll College – Clinical rotations include rural hospitals, correctional nursing, public health, and community settings that closely mirror nursing practice across much of Montana.
You live outside one of Montana’s major cities
Montana State University or University of Providence – MSU offers five campus locations throughout Montana, while Providence combines online coursework with multiple Montana and Alaska skill-lab sites.
You want the strongest published NCLEX outcomes
University of Providence – Providence reported the state’s highest published first-time NCLEX pass rate at 96.43%.
Which Program Length Is Right for You?
Want to finish as quickly as possible?
Montana State University and University of Providence both complete the ABSN in approximately 12 months.
Choose MSU if lower tuition and statewide campus options matter most.
Choose Providence if you prefer mostly online coursework and small cohorts.
Need a little more time?
Carroll College completes the program in approximately 15 months.
The additional time supports broader clinical exposure, including rural and correctional nursing, while remaining one of the few ABSNs open to applicants with an associate degree.
That feels more natural.
Cost Comparison
Montana State University — ~$28,806 in-state: MSU’s Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing prices the ABSN at standard resident tuition and fees for 56 credits across fall, spring, and summer terms — approximately $28,806 for Montana residents.
Carroll College — ~$55,000–$63,000 (before loan forgiveness): Carroll’s four-term program runs about $13,750 per term in tuition, with program and clinical fees bringing the total to approximately $60,000–$63,000.
For students who qualify for Benefis Health System’s Commitment to Care program, the $30,000 interest-free forgivable loan effectively reduces net cost to approximately $30,000–$33,000.
University of Providence — ~$47,628 (healthcare professional rate) or ~$60,804 (standard rate): Providence’s tuition is per credit for 54 credits, with a meaningful discount for current healthcare workers.
The $13,176 difference between the healthcare professional rate and the standard rate makes Providence the most affordable option for working healthcare workers who hold a bachelor’s degree and want a mostly online format.
Bottom line: Montana State is the clear financial choice for Montana residents paying in-state tuition. Carroll becomes much more competitive for students who qualify for the Benefis forgivable loan, while Providence can offer similar value to working healthcare professionals who receive its discounted tuition rate.
Prerequisite Course Patterns
The three Montana programs have notably different prerequisite footprints.
University of Providence requires only five prerequisites — Microbiology, A&P I, A&P II, Nutrition, and Statistics — the shortest list among Montana programs and far below the national typical range of 7–10 prerequisites.
Montana State University requires 13 prerequisites including two chemistry sequences, a writing course, public speaking, lifespan development, and Introduction to Professional Nursing (NRSG 116).
Carroll College requires 12+ prerequisites, including two theology courses and one philosophy course with an ethics component — unique requirements tied to Carroll’s Catholic identity that are not typical of secular nursing programs.
Start Dates and Application Deadlines
| School | Start Date | Application Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Summer (4-term cycle) | Rolling from October 2 until cohort fills | Associate or bachelor’s degree accepted; NursingCAS; | |
August | January 5 (priority); July 15 (if seats remain) | Priority decisions March 15; 5 campuses; bachelor’s required; NursingCAS + Complio; 90.1% NCLEX | |
Varies by cohort/location | April 17, July 10, December 18, 2026 | Mostly online; Montana + Alaska sites; max 20/cohort; 96.43% NCLEX; healthcare professional discount; bachelor’s required |
Carroll’s rolling admissions: Carroll opens its application window on October 2 each year — earlier than MSU’s January 5 priority deadline. The cohort fills on a rolling basis, so earlier submission strengthens the chance of a seat, particularly for a program that admits both associate and bachelor’s degree holders.
MSU’s two-window system: Priority applicants (submitted by January 5) receive decisions by March 15. If seats remain open, the program accepts applications through July 15. This second window matters for students finishing prerequisites in the spring who miss the January deadline. Campus placement is not guaranteed at the preferred location; waitlist options are available if a campus fills.
Providence’s cohort variability: Because Providence runs cohorts across multiple locations in Montana and Alaska on different schedules, the general university deadline dates may not align with specific ABSN cohort timelines. Confirm the ABSN-specific intake dates for your target location (Lewistown, Great Falls, Anchorage, or Juneau) directly with the program before planning around the published general deadlines.
Clinical Training Structure
Clinical hours
- Carroll College reports approximately 850 combined clinical and simulation hours across its 15-month program.
- University of Providence publishes 18 clinical credits at approximately 45 hours per credit (per 8-week term), totaling approximately 810 clinical hours.
- Montana State University does not publish a specific clinical hour total but structures clinical learning throughout all three semesters, culminating in a professional internship (NRSG 498) in the final term.
Broadest Rural Clinical Experience
Carroll’s clinical diversity: Carroll is notable for including rural nursing, correctional nursing, psychiatric care, public health, assisted-living, school health, and community health programs in its clinical rotation scope — a breadth of setting types uncommon even nationally among ABSN programs.
Statewide Clinical Network
MSU’s campus-based local placement model: MSU designed the ABSN around campus-based cohorts specifically to support local clinical placements at each of its five locations. Students assigned to Billings rotate in the Billings clinical market; students in Missoula rotate in the Missoula market.
Hybrid Clinical Model
Providence’s hybrid clinical model: Providence combines online didactic coursework with in-person skills labs and clinical immersions at each skill-lab site. Lab sessions are guided by clinical nursing faculty and site coordinators. Clinical placements span both urban and rural healthcare settings tied to the student’s assigned location — Lewistown and Great Falls in Montana, Anchorage and Juneau in Alaska.
Carroll’s simulation center: Carroll operates a state-of-the-art simulation center where students build clinical competency in a controlled environment before patient contact. The program integrates simulation throughout the 15-month sequence, not only in early semesters.
Montana ABSN Program Summaries
Carroll College ABSN Program
Helena | $55,000 | 15 Months
Carroll College offers a 15-month Accelerated Nursing Track in Helena for students who already hold a prior associate or bachelor's degree. A Catholic college with strong clinical infrastructure, it pairs a forgivable Benefis Health System loan with broad clinical exposure across Montana settings.
Highlights
- $30,000 forgivable loan through the Benefis Health System partnership
- ~850 clinical/simulation hours, including rural and correctional nursing
- 15-month, four-term format; accepts an associate or bachelor's degree
Montana State University ABSN Programs
Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, & Missoula | $28,806 | 15 Months
Montana State University offers a 15-month ABSN at five campuses across the state for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree. Delivered through the Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing, it pairs statewide access and affordable resident tuition with strong licensure outcomes.
Highlights
- Offered at five Montana campuses with local clinical placements
- Affordable resident tuition (~$28,806); ~$57,467 non-resident
- Fast 12-month format; 90.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate (2025)
University of Providence ABSN Program
Great Falls | $60,804 | 12 Months
University of Providence offers a 12-month hybrid ABSN for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree, blending online coursework with in-person skill-lab sites across Montana and Alaska. A Catholic university, it keeps cohorts small and posts the strongest NCLEX outcome among Montana's ABSN programs.
Highlights
- Hybrid online with skill-lab sites in Montana and Alaska
- Small cohorts (max 20); 96.43% NCLEX pass rate (2024)
- Discounted tuition rate for current healthcare professionals (~$47,628)