The Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing at Montana State University announced on Mar. 23 the grand opening dates this fall for four new nursing education buildings, marking a significant milestone five years after receiving a record-setting private donation.
This development follows a $101 million gift from Mark and Robyn Jones, founders of Goosehead Insurance, in August 2021. The donation enabled the construction of new facilities across all five MSU nursing campuses: Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls, Kalispell and Missoula. The college said these modern buildings were designed and built on an expedited timeline to benefit students and communities statewide.
Sarah Shannon, dean of the nursing college, said: “Our growth as Montana’s premier nursing college is a benefit both for students and all Montanans, who are cared for by the impressive numbers of Bobcat nurses who have chosen to stay in Montana and serve their communities. This additional infrastructure will allow our college to increase enrollment, increase the number of nursing graduates each year and bolster the health care workforce in every corner of the state.”
Currently, about 300 bachelor’s-prepared nurses graduate annually from MSU’s five campuses. With these new facilities coming online—one already open in Great Falls since fall 2025—the annual number is expected to rise by 100 students to approximately 400 registered nurses each year. The “five campuses one college” model lets students take prerequisite courses in Bozeman before applying to complete their program at any campus location.
Each building features large classrooms, foundational skills rooms and advanced simulation centers with specialized spaces for maternal/newborn care, adult care and pediatrics. Student-centered amenities include private study rooms, nooks and day-use lockers. Construction was coordinated with design firms Cushing Terrel and CO Architects alongside local contractors in each community.
Montana State University leads research funding within the state with annual expenditures exceeding $288 million according to its official website. The university also contributes through volunteer efforts as well as outreach initiatives that aim to enhance lives across Montana according to its official website. MSU ranks among the top five percent of global universities per the Center for World University Rankings according to its official website.
With an enrollment around 17,165 students split evenly between residents and nonresidents according to its official website, MSU operates as Montana’s land-grant university focusing on research-driven solutions for key challenges according to its official website. As described by its leadership team on its official site, MSU provides extensive academic programs while maintaining top rankings nationally.
Broader implications include increased access for future nurses throughout Montana’s rural regions—a move that could help address ongoing healthcare shortages statewide.