Best Associate's in Elementary Education Programs in Montana
All 3 Elementary Education associate's-level programs in Montana, ranked overall on graduation rate, affordability, and more, from the IPEDS database.
An associate's in elementary education is a two-year transfer degree and the first step toward a bachelor's and an eventual Montana teaching license, and Montana has 3 accredited elementary education associate's programs to compare. This ranking scores every one on the outcomes that actually affect your return: graduation rate, in-state affordability, and selectivity, all pulled from the public federal IPEDS database. Blackfeet Community College ranks first with a score of 78, on a 62 percent graduation rate.
Teaching assistants in Montana earn a median of $34,750 a year according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, against a national median of $36,780. Each section below covers a specific decision point, cost and real ROI, Montana licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in Montana on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.
- 1
Blackfeet Community College
78score- 62%Grad rate
- $2,880/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 318Undergrads
- 5Grads/yr
- Elementary Education (Associate of Science)
- On-campus
About the programBlackfeet Community College's Elementary Education program awards an Associate of Science and functions as a transfer pathway, structured as a 2+2 arrangement with the University of Montana Western toward a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. The associate degree itself does not confer a teaching license; Montana K-8 teacher certification is earned after completing the bachelor's. The division integrates teacher candidates into classroom settings and offers night classes for those already working in the school district. The curriculum centers a Native American Indigenous worldview and concepts specific to the Piikuni Tribal Nation. Among Montana's 3 ranked associate's-level programs, this one posts the highest graduation rate at 62%. Earning an associate degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Montana's teaching assistants.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. Its strongest card is completion: a 62% graduation rate lands it in the top 1% of Montana programs, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Tuition is middle of the road for Montana programs at $2,880 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.
- 2
Fort Peck Community College
45score- 17%Grad rate
- $1,680/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 362Undergrads
- 9Grads/yr
- Associate of Arts in Elementary Education
About the programFort Peck Community College's Associate of Arts in Elementary Education is a 62-credit transfer pathway rather than a licensure degree, built to carry students cleanly into a four-year teacher preparation program. It covers the first two years of that path, with credits designed to transfer to Montana University System institutions such as the University of Montana, Montana State University-Northern, and Rocky Mountain College. What gives the program its character is its grounding in place, since the curriculum weaves in Montana history and Indian education content. For students not ready to commit to a bachelor's right away, the degree also qualifies graduates for paraprofessional and teaching-aide roles, offering a practical foothold in the classroom. It carries the lowest in-state tuition among Montana's 3 ranked associate's-level programs, at $1,680. This associate-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as teaching assistants in Montana.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThree things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 17% the graduation rate trails the Montana median, which caps how high it can climb. Cost only helps its case: at $1,680 in state, tuition runs below the Montana median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.
- 3
Salish Kootenai College
28score- 28%Grad rate
- $5,076/yrIn-state tuition
- $10,260/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 636Undergrads
- 2Grads/yr
- Associate of Science in Elementary Education
- On-campus
About the programRooted in a mission to bring more Native American teachers into public schools, Salish Kootenai College's Associate of Science in Elementary Education is a 100-credit, on-campus program that gives students an early, grounded start in the classroom. The degree opens two clear doors: graduates can step into public school districts as paraprofessionals, or they can carry their credits forward toward a Bachelor's in Elementary Education. Students who meet the program's benchmarks move into the Teacher Education Program for third- and fourth-year coursework aimed at K-8 licensure at the bachelor's level. On its own, the associate does not confer a teaching license. The Division of Education's program is approved by the Montana Board of Public Education and reviewed by the state Office of Public Instruction. Graduates of this elementary education program at the associate level often go on to work as teaching assistants.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThe ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among Montana programs at 28%, solid without being a standout. The one drag is price, $5,076 in state, above the Montana median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.
Key facts about a associate's in Elementary Education in Montana
- Montana has 3 accredited associate's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
- Blackfeet Community College ranks first among elementary education associate's programs in Montana with a score of 78, on a 62 percent graduation rate.
- Fort Peck Community College is the most affordable associate's in elementary education in Montana, at $1,680 a year in-state tuition.
- Teaching assistants in Montana earn a median of $34,750 a year (BLS), ranking Montana 32 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
- Montana requires the Praxis licensure exam, administered through Montana Office of Public Instruction, to earn a teaching license.
What a associate's in elementary education costs in Montana (2026)
Published in-state tuition for a associate's in elementary education in Montana runs from $1,680 to $5,076 a year across the 3 programs we rank, with a median of $2,880. The most affordable is Fort Peck Community College at $1,680 a year. These are published sticker rates from IPEDS; most future teachers bring the net figure down with the Pell Grant, the federal TEACH Grant, and state teacher-preparation aid, so weigh net price, not the sticker.
Cost only means something next to completion. The elementary education programs ranked here average a 36 percent graduation rate, and a lower-priced program where fewer students finish is not necessarily the cheaper path to a degree. Compare tuition and graduation rate together above.
Sources: IPEDS tuition data
What teaching assistants earn in Montana
Teaching assistants in Montana earn a median of $34,750 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $36,780. That ranks Montana 32 of 51 states and territories for teaching assistants pay. Nationally, pay for this occupation spans roughly $27,150 at the 10th percentile to $50,040 at the 90th, with a master's degree, years in the classroom, and the local district salary schedule driving the climb.
The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects 1 percent decline in teaching assistants employment nationally from 2024 to 2034, with about 170,400 openings a year as teachers retire or change careers. A associate's in elementary education in Montana is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.
How to get a Montana teaching license
An associate's in elementary education does not by itself qualify you for a Montana teaching license. It is a two-year foundation that transfers into a bachelor's, which, with a supervised student-teaching placement and Praxis (The Praxis Series), leads to the Class 2 Standard Teaching License issued by Montana Office of Public Instruction. Associate's graduates also qualify for teaching-assistant and paraprofessional roles in Montana schools while they finish the bachelor's.
Montana accepts only Praxis tests; applications are submitted through the TeachMT licensing system. Confirm your program is currently state-approved before you enroll.
Sources: Montana educator certification, Praxis exam
Choosing an accredited elementary education program in Montana
Pick a associate's in elementary education in Montana that is regionally accredited and whose educator-preparation program is approved by the Montana Department of Education, ideally with CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) accreditation. State approval is what lets the degree count toward a Montana teaching license, and CAEP is the national standard for program quality, so confirm both before enrolling in any elementary education program in Montana.
Sources: CAEP accreditation
Frequently asked questions about a associate's in Elementary Education in Montana
How many associate's in elementary education programs are in Montana?
There are 3 accredited associate's in elementary education programs in Montana in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.
What is the most affordable associate's in elementary education in Montana?
Fort Peck Community College is the most affordable associate's in elementary education in Montana, at $1,680 a year in in-state tuition.
How much do teaching assistants make in Montana?
Teaching assistants in Montana earn a median of $34,750 a year, according to <a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes259045.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics</a>, versus $36,780 nationally.
What exam do you need to teach in Montana?
Montana requires the Praxis (The Praxis Series) licensure exam, administered for Montana Office of Public Instruction. See the <a href="https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/montana-overview.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">official exam page</a> for current test requirements.
Is a associate's in elementary education worth it in Montana?
For most future teachers, yes. A associate's in elementary education in Montana is the standard credential for a Montana teaching license, and it leads to a median teaching assistants salary of $34,750 a year in Montana. Compare graduation rate and net price above to find the best value in 2026.
These are the best associate's in elementary education programs in Montana for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 3 associate's in elementary education in Montana above by graduation rate, tuition, and selectivity, then open each program page to take the next step toward transferring into a bachelor's and a classroom career in Montana.