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Finance Programs and Careers in Montana

This page provides information about postsecondary finance programs in Montana. Those interested in a finance degree will find different program options in the state, from programs in financial engineering to programs in financial planning. Montana is home to schools that host traditional four-year bachelor’s programs and minor programs in finance as well as one school with a master’s program in finance. Finance graduates in Montana may find opportunities to work in a variety of finance positions across several industries in the state.

Quick Facts

  • There are 4 colleges and universities with finance degree programs in Montana.1
  • No schools offer a certificate in finance.1
  • 1 school offers an associate’s degree in finance.1
  • 4 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in finance.1
  • 1 school offers a master’s or advanced degree in finance.1
  • No schools ranked in Forbes’ Best Business Schools 2019.2
  • No schools ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Business and Finance Majors 2020.3
  • No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Undergraduate Finance Programs 2021.4
  • No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Finance Programs 2021.5

For not-for-profit colleges and universities with finance degree programs.

Table of Contents

Montana Finance Program Comparison

We have developed the following table to help you compare all of the finance programs in Montana from not-for-profit schools that offer programs with a concentration in finance. In addition to allowing you to compare the business school’s accreditation, finance degrees that appear in bold are Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute University Affiliation Programs, those that have been recognized for curricula aligned to preparing for the CFA Exam.

SchoolAccreditationFinance Degree(s)Acceptance Rate6Grad Rate1Online Options?Median Debt7Net Price1
Carroll CollegeIACBEBA-Business: Accounting and Strategic Finance;
BA-Business: Financial Planning		N.Av.63%—$21,500$25,187
Montana State UniversityAACSBBS-Business: Finance;
BS-Financial Engineering;
Minor-Finance;
Minor-Financial Engineering;
Minor-Personal and Consumer Finance;
MS-Family Financial Planning		N.Av.57%Yes$13,000$16,746
Montana State University-BillingsAACSBBS-Business Administration: FinanceN.Av.24%—$9,250$12,070
University of MontanaAACSBBS-FinanceN.Av.45%—$14,250$14,731

  • — indicates none.
  • N.Av. indicates no data available.

Top-Ranked Schools with Finance Programs in Montana

Georgetown CEW’s ROI Ranking by Long-Term Net Present Value 2019

The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) has compared 4,500 colleges and universities on graduates’ return on investment (ROI). We use their net present value (NPV) ranking, which is the current dollar value of earning a four-year degree from the school over a 40-year horizon.

  • Carroll College (#912; $917,000)
  • Montana State University (#1,045; $891,000)
  • University of Montana (#2,153; $734,000)
  • Montana State University Billings (#2,258; $732,000)7

Select Schools in Montana with Finance Degrees

Traditional Undergraduate Programs

Carroll College

Carroll College offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Business with a Financial Planning major that can qualify graduates to sit for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam. Completion of the four-year BA from Carroll requires 122 credit hours. The Financial Planning major requires 21 courses, including nine business core classes, nine financial planning classes, and three required non-business courses. Courses in the Financial Planning curriculum cover topics such as Estate Planning, Personal Selling, and Federal Taxation. In addition to the major requirements, Carroll students must complete an experiential course such as an internship, study abroad program, research experience, or service-learning experience. Business students must achieve a “C-” or better in all required courses to graduate. Admission to Carroll requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Students with a high school GPA of 3.0 or lower must submit an ACT or SAT score.

Montana State University

The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Montana State University (MSU) hosts a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Financial Engineering, in conjunction with the Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics, that emphasizes combining new financial instruments with existing financial tools. Over the course of the four-year degree, students must complete 125 credit hours, of which 42 credits must be in upper-division courses. Upper-division courses in the Financial Engineering program include courses such as Money and Banking, in which students analyze money, banking, and credit; Engineering and Economical Financial Management, an introduction to the principles of financial engineering; and the Financial Engineering Design Capstone, in which teams of students undertake a comprehensive design project. Applicants to the BS in Financial Engineering must have graduated from high school with a sufficient GPA or score on the ACT or SAT and have completed the necessary high school prerequisite curriculum. MSU also offers a BS in Business with a Finance major through the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Montana State University, Billings

Montana State University, Billings (MSU Billings) offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with a Finance option that will help students understand global economic and social systems and succeed in business endeavors. The four-year, on-campus program requires students to complete 31 credits of general education courses, 50 credits of business core courses, 21 credits towards the Finance option, and at least 18 electives. The Finance curriculum covers topics like banking, financial modeling, risk management, and multinational finance. Of the 120 credits required for the BSBA degree, 36 must be upper-division classes. Admission to MSU Billings requires graduation from high school and the ACT or SAT with any of the following: a GPA of 2.5 or above; a score of at least 22 on the ACT or at least 1540 on the SAT; or a class rank in the upper half of the applicant’s graduating class.

University of Montana

The College of Business at the University of Montana (UM) hosts a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a Finance major designed to give students a solid foundation in finance, markets, and investments. Students in the four-year degree must complete 120 credit hours total and 75 to 77 degree-specific credit hours. To graduate from the program, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 and achieve a “C-” or better in all business coursework. The BS in Business Administration curriculum is split between College of Business requirements, required Finance courses, and Finance electives. The Finance curriculum includes studies in banking, investments, and financial engineering. UM’s freshman enrollment requires graduation from high school with the necessary preparatory curriculum and sufficient GPA, ACT or SAT score, or class rank.

Online and Hybrid Programs

Montana State University

The Department of Health and Human Development at Montana State University (MSU) offers a Master of Science (MS) in Health and Human Development with a Family Financial Planning option designed to be completed online for students with either part- or full- time employment. The part-time program can help students qualify for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam in as little as two years, with most students completing the degree in four years. The program is offered through the Great Plains Distance Education Alliance, a collaboration between seven regional universities. While students enroll in the program as MSU graduate students, classes are offered online from each participating university. Family Financial Planning students must complete 36 credit hours to complete the program, consisting of eight core courses and four elective courses. Core courses include Financial Counseling, Estate Planning for Families, and Insurance Planning for Families. Admission to the program requires a bachelor’s degree and a GPA of at least 3.0.

Montana Finance Careers and Salary Outlook

With its national companies and local and regional opportunities, Montana may offer many different career possibilities to those with degrees in finance. Montana is home to many statewide and regional banks, such as Eagle Bancorp Montana, First Interstate BancSystem, and Glacier Bancorp. These banks and other local financial services companies may offer finance or finance-related positions. Montana’s healthcare sector includes companies such as Billings Clinic, a Billings-based healthcare center with locations around the state. With a large tourist economy, graduates with finance degrees may also find opportunities in transportation and tourism companies such as Kampgrounds of America (KOA), the world’s largest systems of private campgrounds, or Big Sky Airlines.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that more than 3,000 people work in Montana as finance professionals.8 Financial managers in the state have the highest average salaries among finance positions, averaging a salary of $110,070 per year.9 Southwest Montana has 0.3 financial examiners for every 1,000 jobs, the fifth-highest concentration of financial examiners in a nonmetropolitan area in the US.10 Montana’s loan officers have the highest employment levels among financial positions in the state, with 1,240 loan officers working in the state.8 Financial positions in Montana are projected to grow faster than the national average rate through 2028.11 The highest growth rate for finance jobs is expected among financial managers, with positions in the state expected to grow by 19.8% through 2028, faster than the national average of 16.8% for the same period.11

Montana Finance Salary Information

OccupationNumber Employed8Average Salary8
Business and Financial Operations Occupations22,250$62,730
Financial and Investment Analysts and Other Specialists500$75,270
Financial Examiners140$69,600
Financial Managers850$110,070
Loan Officers1,240$67,030
Personal Financial Advisors410N.Av.

Finance Associations in Montana

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Forbes Best Business Schools 2019: https://www.forbes.com/business-schools/list/
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges, 2020 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2019.
4. US News & World Report Best Undergraduate Finance Schools 2021: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/business-finance
5. US News & World Report Best Graduate Finance Schools 2021: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/finance-rankings
6. US News & World Report Best Business Schools 2021: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools
7. Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Ranking ROI of 4,500 US Colleges and Universities: https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/CollegeROI/
8. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Montana: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_mt.htm
9. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, Financial Managers: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes113031.htm
10. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, Loan Officers: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132072.htm
11. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/projections/longterm