I think most if not all the schools in the Big Sky are and will be excellent academic institutions. You don't have to be a Ph.D. program school to be excellent; just do what you do well. This is one of many articles that have come out lately regarding Cal Poly (From the Wall Street Journal Sept 13, 2010) :
California Polytechnic State University
"[Students] learn by doing … lots of labs which gives practical experience making them more ready for on the job work."
" This school offers a solid 'hands on' lab environment along with the academic development."
"Cal Poly is our top school preference because of the quality of the career center staff, the caliber of students… Lastly, the students are required to apply their skills in the business environment through their Senior Project and also internships, which are tied to academic credit and graduation requirements."
Also ranked by the Wall Street Journal in the Top 25, public or private in: Business, Computer Sci and Engineering.
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My wife and I are both Cal Poly grads: Business and Economics for me and Education for her. After graduating from Cal Poly, Magna Cum Laude, our daughter received a Fellowship to UC Davis' doctoral program in Entomology. It is the top ranked program in the nation. So, Davis too as most know, is a top notch institution.