The Princeton Review names Montana Technological University one of the nation's Best Colleges for 2026

Montana Technological University has been recognized as one of the nation’s best undergraduate institutions by The Princeton Review®, earning a place in the 2026 edition of its prestigious guide, The Best 391 Colleges (Penguin Random House, August 12, 2025).

“A Montana Tech education changes lives,” Executive Director of Admissions and Enrollment Leslie Dickerson said. “Our students come here ready to work hard and make a difference, and Montana Tech gives them the tools to do just that. Our graduates leave prepared not only for rewarding careers, but to lead and innovate in ways the world needs most.”

Only about 15% of America’s nearly 2,400 four-year colleges are included in the guide. The Princeton Review selected the schools based on surveys of more than 2,000 college administrators regarding their institutions’ academic offerings, as well as surveys of 170,000 students who rated their schools on dozens of topics and shared insights about their campus experiences.

“Montana Tech is known for delivering a transformative education filled with opportunity and innovation, and we’re thrilled that our students and stakeholders recognize and confirm the value of their experience here,” Vice Provost for Student Success and Dean of Students Joe Cooper said. “Our graduates and career outcomes continue to be proof that our ever-changing world needs Montana Tech.”

Located in Butte, Montana Tech is the state’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) university.

“Montana Tech has outstanding academic programs, and the feedback we received from its students was very impressive,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review's editor-in-chief and lead author of The Best 391 Colleges. “We are delighted to name Montana Tech one of our Best Colleges for 2026 and to recommend it to students searching for their ‘best-fit’ college.”

Unlike many rankings, The Best 391 Colleges does not rank schools from 1 to 391 overall. Instead, it publishes 50 separate lists highlighting top colleges in specific categories based entirely on student survey responses. Montana Tech appears on the Best West list, which recognizes outstanding colleges in the western United States.

The Princeton Review also assigns rating scores (on a scale from 60 to 99) to each school in eight categories, primarily based on institutional data and, in some cases, student feedback. Montana Tech earned ratings of 83/99 for admissions selectivity, 85/99 for interesting professors, 89/99 for accessible professors, 79/99 for academics, 83/99 for fire safety, 82/99 for quality of life, and 86/99 for financial aid. Full details about the methodology and rankings can be found on The Princeton Review’s website.

The Best 391 Colleges is one of more than 150 books published by The Princeton Review, which has been featured in national outlets including NBC’s TODAY, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. Founded in 1981, The Princeton Review is an education services company known for its tutoring, test preparation, admission resources, and college rankings. The company is headquartered in New York, NY, and is not affiliated with Princeton University.

Montana Tech accepts applications on a rolling basis. To apply, click here.