Montana's list is short and entirely public, and each program serves a different job. Montana State University Billings leads with a Master of Science in Special Education. The University of Montana in Missoula follows with a Master of Arts in School Counseling, and Montana State University in Bozeman rounds it out with a Master of Music in Music Education.
A short list is easier to compare than a long one, but it demands more care. Special education and school counseling lead to a Montana license, while the music education master's is a graduate degree for teachers who already work in the classroom. With three programs, the better question for a Montana resident is which role you want, not which school scored highest.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, Montana State University Billings
75.8
median in-state tuition and fees across the 3 listed, 2023-24
$8,320
schools in Montana with a ranked fully online master's in education
3
ranked programs in Montana that lead to a license
3
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in Montana, one per school.
The 3 Online Master's in Education Programs in Montana
The 3 programs below are at schools in Montana, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
Montana State University Billings
Master of Science in Special Education
Billings, Montana
75.8- Public
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 22 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,320
- In-state rate
- $8,320, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $23,781
Billings is the base for Montana State University Billings' Master of Science in Special Education, a minimum of 39 credit hours split into 6 of professional core, 27 of preparation, and 6 of practice, with a 6-credit student teaching practicum. A Generalist Option serves candidates with a teaching degree but no undergraduate special education training, while the Advanced Studies Option is for those who already hold an undergraduate special education teaching degree.
The program leads to special education licensure through Montana Office of Public Instruction, which issues the Class 2 Standard Teaching License. A criminal background check and fingerprinting go through the College of Education Licensure Officer. Provisional admission asks for a GRE of 145 verbal and quantitative and 3.5 writing. The educator preparation unit is CAEP accredited. Montana residents pay $8,320 a year and nonresidents $23,781 for 2023-24, and the school awarded 22 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
2
The University of Montana
Master of Arts in School Counseling
Missoula, Montana
71.2- Public
- Leads to a license
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
- Degrees awarded
- 20 a year
- Yearly cost
- $9,580
- In-state rate
- $9,580, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $35,314
Sixty credits make up the Master of Arts in School Counseling at The University of Montana in Missoula, delivered fully online with a minimum of 700 hours of supervised school counseling experience, 600 of them in a school setting. CACREP accredits the program, and a single school counseling track means every candidate follows the same sequence of courses.
The coursework satisfies what Montana requires for licensure as a school counselor, which Montana Office of Public Instruction issues. Montana residents pay $9,580 a year and nonresidents $35,314 for 2023-24 at this public university, and 20 master's degrees were awarded in the latest federal count. A Montana teacher or aspiring counselor can complete the supervised hours in school settings while studying online.
3
Montana State University
Master of Music in Music Education
Bozeman, Montana
52.4- Public
- No license involved
- Music Teacher Education
- Degrees awarded
- 6 a year
- Yearly cost
- $7,313
- In-state rate
- $7,313, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $24,863
Montana State University in Bozeman designs its Master of Music in Music Education for currently licensed, practicing music teachers, and everything is 100% online. The 30-credit degree ends in a major paper or project shaped by the student's interest and expertise, and no GRE is required. Accreditation comes from CAEP and NASM.
It is not an initial licensure pathway, so the Class 2 Standard Teaching License from Montana Office of Public Instruction is something a teacher already holds or pursues separately. Music educators in Montana can complete the degree without leaving their classrooms. Montana residents pay $7,313 a year and nonresidents $24,863 for 2023-24, and the public university awarded 6 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
How We Rank
Every eligible program is scored out of 100. Each figure becomes a percentile against the 1771 ranked programs, and the percentiles are weighted as below. The methodology page explains each choice.
- Degrees awarded: 50%. Master's degrees the program conferred in the latest reported year, counted up to 50. Past 50 a year a program is clearly established and more volume adds nothing.
- In-state tuition and fees: 50%. The university's graduate in-state tuition plus required fees for a full-time year, 2023-24, the price a Montana resident pays. Lower cost scores higher.
Reading the cards. The tuition figure is each school's in-state graduate rate for a full-time year, 2023-24, with its out-of-state rate beside it where the two differ.
Source: federal IPEDS records, read October 6, 2026. Tuition and fees are each school's graduate in-state rate for 2023-24. Scores are our own.
Which Online Master's Programs in Montana Lead to a License?
2 ranked programs at schools in Montana lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The Montana teacher licensure guide covers what the state asks for beyond the degree.
| Rank | School | Program | Credential the school names | In-state rate, 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana State University Billings | Master of Science in Special Education | Educator license | $8,320 |
| 2 | The University of Montana | Master of Arts in School Counseling | Educator license | $9,580 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in Montana?
An online master's in education at a school in Montana costs a resident from $7,313 to $9,580 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 3 programs, with a median of $8,320, for 2023-24. These are full-time yearly charges at the in-state rate, and many universities bill online students per credit instead, so the program's own figure may differ.
How Do Montana Licenses Work for Someone Earning a Master's Online?
Montana licenses work for someone earning a master's online through the classes the Office of Public Instruction assigns, and the master's is written into the upper class. The Class 2 Standard Teaching License is the starting point, and the Class 1 Professional license asks for a master's degree in education or an endorsable teaching area, or National Board certification.
For a Montana resident, that makes the master's a way to move up a license you already hold. The Montana State Billings special education degree and the University of Montana counseling degree also serve people who need a new endorsement or a counselor license. A candidate who lacks a Praxis result can choose among several readiness pathways instead, and our Montana licensure guide lists them. The state says it has no reciprocity with any state, so a Montana program is the cleaner path.
Which Montana Master's Degrees Fit Special Education, Counseling and Music Teachers?
The Montana master's degrees that fit special education, counseling and music teachers are three separate programs at three campuses. Montana State University Billings offers the Master of Science in Special Education, which is the one that enrolls the most students and charges the lower of the two rates among the programs that lead to a license. The University of Montana's school counseling master's is the right fit for someone aiming at a school counselor role.
Montana State University's music education master is the least expensive of the three and the only one that does not lead to a license. A music teacher who already holds a Class 2 license and wants the Class 1 can use it for that purpose. All three are public, all three are priced at the in-state rate, and none requires you to leave Montana to enroll.
What Does Studying Online in Montana Look Like for a Resident?
Studying online in Montana looks like coursework from a distance with practical work in a school close to where you live. Montana's schools can be far apart, so the question of who arranges and supervises your placement matters more than usual. Ask the program whether supervisors travel, visit virtually or approve a local mentor, and whether a counseling internship or a special education placement can be arranged at your own district's schools.
Because the schools are in Montana, tuition is the in-state rate. Federal rule 34 CFR 668.43 requires a licensure disclosure, so ask each school for its statement. Montana is a member of NC-SARA, and NC-SARA says its agreement does not address licensing board approval. A Montana resident who finishes here and later moves away should expect the new state's board to review the credential on its own terms.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in Montana
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in Montana?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in Montana Ranked?
Can a Montana Online Master's Lead to a School Counselor License?
The University of Montana's Master of Arts in School Counseling leads to a Montana school counselor credential. The Office of Public Instruction licenses counselors, so ask the program how its practicum meets the state's requirements and whether it helps with the application.
Is the Montana Special Education Master's Online?
Montana State University Billings offers the Master of Science in Special Education online. It leads to Montana licensure, so confirm the endorsement area, the field experience and any Praxis requirement with the program before you apply.
Does a Montana Master's Earn the Class 1 Professional License?
A master's in education or an endorsable teaching area is one of the ways to qualify for the Class 1 Professional license, along with the requirements for Class 2. The Office of Public Instruction's license page sets out the details, so check that your degree field qualifies.
Why Is the Montana Online Master's List so Short?
The Montana list covers only universities located in Montana, so it reflects what those campuses run rather than every program a Montana resident could take. Someone who wants a specialty not offered here can look at the national and specialty rankings for programs based in other states.
Where Do the Figures for Montana Come From?
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24
- Montana Office of Public Instruction, Educator Licenses
- 34 CFR 668.43, Institutional and programmatic information (eCFR)
- NC-SARA, Professional Licensure
- Montana Office of Public Instruction, Educator Licensure
Tuition and degree counts come from federal records each college reports about itself.
Show the federal record for all 3 colleges ranked, in 1 state
Montana State University Billings The University of Montana Montana State University