6 Most Beautiful College Towns In Montana
Great college towns possess certain unmistakable qualities. Not only do they buzz with youthful energy, but they also offer cultural and recreational opportunities that appeal to students, faculty, and residents alike. They also appeal to travelers, with campuses adding everything from lovely green spaces to charming historic buildings to a community’s sightseeing opportunities.
In Montana, these elements are amplified by the state's often dramatic geography, as well as its cultural possibilities. Here, you can explore world-class museums and galleries in the morning, hike or bike mountain trails in the afternoon, then spend the evening in a local brew pub or take in a show. From the towering peaks of the Rockies to the rolling plains of the Hi-Line region, these six beautiful college towns in Montana are a perfect mix of intellectual pursuit and magnificent scenery.
Bozeman
Home to Montana State University (MSU), Bozeman is widely regarded as Montana's most dynamic college town. Established in 1893 as an agricultural college, MSU has since evolved into a leading research institution of just over 17,000 students and is highly regarded for its engineering, agriculture, and film programs. The university's influence permeates every nook and cranny of Bozeman, from the historic downtown district to the Bozeman Farmers' Market in Lindley Park where entrepreneurial students sell their wares alongside locals.
The Museum of the Rockies is another shining example of the synergy between town and gown. Thanks to MSU's renowned paleontology program, this world-class attraction is home to a vast collection of dinosaur fossils. MSU football games at Bobcat Stadium are popular with locals, while the Ellen Theatre, a restored 1919 vaudeville house, hosts everything from student productions to touring Broadway shows. Craft breweries like Bozeman Brewing Company and MAP Brewing are also central to Bozeman’s youthful vibe and are popular gathering spaces.
Bozeman is also known for its outdoor fun, with the nearby Bridger Bowl Ski Area offering discounted student lift tickets. Meanwhile, the beautiful Bridger Mountains provide year-round hiking and climbing opportunities and serve as a stunning campus backdrop.
Butte
Situated at an elevation of 5,538 feet, Butte is undoubtedly one of Montana's most unique college towns. Once dependent on its once-thriving gold and copper mining industries, the town has reinvented itself as an educational hub and is now home to Montana Technological University (Montana Tech), one of the nation's top-ranked engineering schools. Founded in 1895 as the Montana State School of Mines, Montana Tech’s petroleum- and metallurgical engineering programs consistently rank highly, attracting students from around the country to study on an attractive campus that blends modern facilities with historic architecture that reflects Butte's mining heritage.
The university's impact on the town’s cultural scene is certainly tangible. The World Museum of Mining, located on the original Orphan Girl Mine site just south of campus, is used by students and visited by tourists to learn more about the industry that built the town. Butte's National Historic Landmark District encompasses much of the beautiful uptown area and is where students work alongside community members to maintain structures like the opulent Copper King Mansion and (don’t snigger!) the Dumas Brothel Museum.
Helena
Montana's capital city combines governmental gravitas with collegiate energy thanks to Carroll College, a private Catholic institution that has been shaping leaders since 1909. Given its prominence on the state’s political stage, the combination of outdoor recreation and cultural activities is a huge plus for those attending the region's most prestigious liberal arts college in Helena.
Locals and students alike fill Nelson Stadium when the college team, Carroll Fighting Saints, plays a home game, while students regularly take on internships at the elegant State Capitol building, located just minutes from campus. The Holter Museum of Art, housed in a beautiful former Carnegie library from 1914, regularly features student exhibitions alongside regional and national artists, while the Myrna Loy Center provides a venue for student film screenings and community performances.
Prefer to have fun exploring the spectacular Montana scenery? Outdoor recreation in this beautiful college town centers around nearby Mount Helena City Park, where hiking trails wind through 620 acres and Mount Helena’s 5,468 ft peak dominates the town skyline.
Kalispell
Its location in the heart of Montana’s Flathead Valley region made Kalispell an obvious choice as home to Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC). Established in 1967, FVCC has built a solid reputation for innovative programs in fields from nursing and dental hygiene to sustainable construction technology and wilderness leadership. It’s also known for its culinary arts program and even operates Root & Rye where students gain real-world experience while serving the public.
Kalispell's location just 30 miles from Glacier National Park is an added bonus for residents and students alike, with the latter making use of this vast wilderness for hands-on learning experiences. In addition to being of interest to visitors, downtown Kalispell's Conrad Mansion Museum provides internship and learning opportunities for history students in a beautiful an 1895 Norman-style estate. The Northwest Montana History Museum offers additional educational partnerships and is located just a block away from Main Street and the downtown core.
Havre
On Montana's northern Hi-Line, a beautiful rural area known for its sprawling farmland and historical significance to the westward expansion of America’s railroads, Havre is home to Montana State University-Northern (MSU-N). Though small, this campus of just over 1,000 students has grown significantly since being founded in 1929 as Northern Montana College, and is today known for its diesel technology, teacher education, and liberal arts programs.
The campus, located on the south side of town, features the distinctive Cowan Hall, a Gothic building from 1931 that anchors the historic core of the university. Speaking of history, Havre’s heritage includes a fascinating recreation of the underground shops set up in cellars after a devastating fire in 1904 destroyed the downtown core. The Havre Beneath the Streets tour provides a fascinating look at the times, including a few illicit establishments that once thrived here such as an opium den and (of course) a bordello.
Dillon
Downtown Dillon is so quaint that it could easily pass as a movie set. And that’s a huge plus not just for residents, but for students at the University of Montana Western (UMW). Main Street is where much of the town’s unspoiled original architecture can be found, especially in the Historic Commercial District. Immensely walkable, notable landmarks include the Dillon County Courthouse, built in 1911 in Neo-Classical style (don’t be shy to pop in for a look at their displays of historic photos from the town’s early years); and the stunning Main Street United Methodist Church, with architectural flourishes dating back to 1892.
The town rolls out the red carpet for UMW’s Bulldog Homecoming Parade in October, a popular celebration of the unique bond between town and gown. Venture a little further outside the beautiful downtown core and you’ll find plenty of opportunities for fly-fishing on Blue Ribbon rivers such as the Beaverhead.
Final Word
Montana's best college towns certainly demonstrate the transformative power of higher education on the communities in which they’re based. From Bozeman's research excellence to Havre's agricultural innovation, these institutions serve as catalysts for intellectual growth, cultural development, and economic opportunity that benefits students, faculty, longtime residents, and visitors alike. Together, these six most beautiful college towns in Montana are every inch the equal of those in any other regions of the United States.
