If you are a student interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and want an affordable and personalized education, Montana Tech might be the place for you. Peer schools are Colorado School of Mines, New Mexico Institute of Technology and South Dakota School of Mines. Located in Butte, America (that’s what the locals call it although I say Butte, Montana) this school of 2700 undergrads produces job-ready engineers that employers compete to hire. Montana Tech students like to say, “We don’t study science, we do science.” This hands-on approach with plenty of field work is ideal for kinesthetic learners. The rich mining history of Butte makes it a natural spot for stand-out programs in mining engineering, metallurgical and materials engineering, petroleum engineering, geological engineering, geophysical engineering and occupational safety & health. Also of note is a five year BS/MA in professional and technical communications that offers a concentration in rhetoric and science. Healthcare informatics is also an available major where job opportunities exceed the number of trained graduates. The traditional ethics of hard work and community are apparent in every aspect of campus life. This is a “work hard, play hard” school.
Students get plenty of support if they are willing to make the effort, and it’s often needed because class work in calculus and chemistry is especially challenging. Professors report grades on the 30th day of the term and there are proactive interventions for students who are not doing well. Many Montana Tech students were STEM stars in their high schools, and are caught by surprise at the level of academic difficulty. Tutoring is free and readily available. Professors are caring and accessible – willing to help students succeed.
Butte is a town of surprising diversity. Folks from around the world came to town during the Montana gold rush, and at one point Butte was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco. That diversity is still apparent in neighborhoods like Butte’s Chinatown or the Irish pubs. Montana Tech draws an usually large number of international students for its size, including many from Canada and Saudi Arabia who are drawn to the petroleum engineering undergrad or master’s program.
Butte was the largest copper producer in the world, and mining is still a significant factor in the economy. Environmental responsibility is a large focus of the resource-based programs, as professors encourage students to consider the environmental, social and political aspects of all resource-based work. While the school does offer a BS in environmental engineering, it likely to attract people thinking about how to safely dispose of mining tailings, or build better fish ladders. This is a science-heavy environmental engineering degree, rather than a more public-policy or people-focused degree in environmental studies.
Montana Tech students fit in time for fun. The athletic facilities are undergoing a significant renovation, and students will have some state-of-the-art space and equipment in which they can stay fit and blow off steam. Although the classroom atmosphere is collaborative, Tech students love to participate in competitions. The school has teams that compete with the likes of MIT, Cornell and Georgia Tech in designing and building concrete canoes, human-powered vehicles, bridge building, software engineering and math. For more traditional sports competitions like football, the big rival is Carroll College. It’s an easy walk to downtown Butte, which has over 2400 registered historical landmarks. We took an historical tour of downtown that included a restored turn-of-the- century hotel that has housed multiple US presidents.
One night of our tour we were treated to an acoustic concert by Professor Chad Okrusch, who is head of the technical communications program, and also happens to be a world-renowned folk singer. He played us original compositions that displayed a great connection to place and an ironic humor which seemed common for Montana residents. Check out his CD “Wisdom Road” and sample my favorite song, which was a protest song about the local towns of Wisdom and Opportunity.
Montana Tech is a great value. Students from nearby western states are likely to receive WUE grants, and merit scholarships of $2500-$6000 are available to students scoring 20 or higher on the ACT. The non-profit Student Assistance Foundation focuses on financial literacy and every student who takes out a loan gets one-on-one counseling to ensure he/she understands the terms and conditions. The most common reason students cited for choosing Montana Tech was the ability to get a great job upon graduation (which explains why their student loan default rate is way lower than average).
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