Montana Western Ranked as the Most Affordable University in Montana The University of Montana Western ranks number one in Montana for “Most Affordable Colleges and Universities by State” by UniversityHQ.org. University Headquarters is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that offers an all-in-one source for information on colleges, entrance requirements and career paths. While the primary criterion was the lowest tuition cost, University Headquarters also looked at other aspects that made the school special, unique and beneficial to students. The survey excluded community colleges and four-year colleges that did not offer multiple bachelor’s degree programs. The rankings list features the two most affordable universities in each state.