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2026 Best Value General Biology Schools in Montana

4 Colleges in the United States
$25,093 Avg Student Debt
$51,201 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value General Biology Badge [General Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/general-biology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general biology education at a price that pays off.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for general biology students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value General Biology Schools in Montana

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general biology, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value General Biology Schools

1

For return on investment in general biology, no school beat Montana State University Billings this year. Set in the city of Billings, Montana State University Billings is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,280, with out-of-state students paying around $22,897. General Biology graduates carry a median of $25,465 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Montana State University Billings generally make around $48,764. That is a strong return on a $25,465 median debt.

2

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana earned it the #2 place for general biology. Located in the town of Butte, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,289, compared with $26,094 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $23,962. Early-career general biology graduates make about $68,773. That is a strong return on a $23,962 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.

3

A rank of #3 makes The University Of Montana one of the best values for general biology. The University Of Montana is a large public school located in the city of Missoula. In-state tuition and fees average $8,552, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $26,718. General Biology graduates of The University Of Montana earn a median of $43,914 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.

4

A rank of #4 makes Rocky Mountain College one of the best values for general biology. Set in the city of Billings, Rocky Mountain College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,582. Students borrow a median of $22,663 to complete the general biology program here. General Biology graduates of Rocky Mountain College earn a median of $27,912 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rocky Mountain College admits about 70% of applicants.

5

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Montana State University earned it the #5 place for general biology. Located in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,460, while out-of-state students pay about $33,287. General Biology graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. General Biology graduates of Montana State University earn a median of $29,435 early in their careers. Set against $24,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.

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Carroll College crest
Carroll College
Helena, MT

Carroll College earned the #6 position for value in general biology this year. Carroll College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Helena. In-state tuition and fees average $41,484. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $27,000. General Biology graduates of Carroll College earn a median of $35,157 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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