Education

Montana State University-Billings was established in 1927 and is committed to the value of lifelong learning. The University’s 112-acre campus, located beneath the Rims between the airport and downtown Billings, has an average enrollment of more than 4200 students, including approximately 400 graduate students. MSU-Billings is fully accredited and offers quality academic majors and minors in nearly 100 fields of study. With a commitment to “Access & Excellence” which begins in the classrooms and extends well beyond the campus boundaries, the University has had a longstanding educational and economic impact on the State and local community. Athletics is an integral part of the university life at MSU-Billings for men and women. All of the Yellowjackets teams are members of NCAA Division II. An extensive intramural program and many indoor and outdoor recreational activities are also offered.

Rocky Mountain College is a private four-year, fully accredited, liberal arts, and church-related college with an enrollment of approximately 800 students. Founded in 1878, Rocky was the state’s first institution of higher learning. The 14:1 student-faculty ratio and average class size of sixteen ensures individual attention, inside and out of the classroom. Rocky once again made the Top Ten list in U.S. News & World Report’s latest issue of “America’s Best Colleges 2002.” According to the magazine, Rocky earned its designation as a comprehensive college that focuses on undergraduate education and offers a wide range of degree programs. Studies over the past 10 years have shown that, within four months of graduation, an average of 96% of Rocky’s graduates are employed or are in graduate school.

MSU-Billings College of Technology provides valuable training in a wide range of technical, trade, health and business areas responsive to employer and community needs and promotes lifelong learning in a supportive and congenial educational environment. MSU-Billings College of Technology is fully accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, as well as program certifications including Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), Montana Board of Nursing, Cisco and Microsoft.

Billing Public School District No. 2 is comprised of 21 elementary schools serving students from preschool through sixth grade, four middle schools for grades 7 and 8, and three four-year high schools. Also part of the system is a Career Center, which provides college prep courses as well as alternative courses in the areas of applied medicine, automotive, child development, construction, digital equipment, electronics, graphics and photography, small business, urban agriculture, and welding. System wide total enrollment is approximately 16,000 students. In addition to Billings School District No. 2, there are eight additional school districts in the Billings area serving more than 3100 students from K through eighth grade.

Private and Parochial Schools. The Billings Unified Catholic School system includes three elementary schools and one high school with a total enrollment of approximately 1000 students. Additionally there are several other religious based private schools for grades K through 12 and approximately thirty pre-schools and Kindergartens.