The University of Montana Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
The University of Montana-Western is a public four-year university in Dillon, Montana, enrolling about 1,198 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 99.78% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $43,229 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $6,670
- 2024 Average Net Price: $16,558 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 99.78% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,198 85.4% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 51.25%
- Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
- First-Generation Students: 36.0%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 9.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 18.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 100.0%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,664
- Applicants (IPEDS): 793
- Room & Board: $10,046 annual estimate
The University of Montana-Western: what the data shows
Common questions about The University of Montana-Western, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is The University of Montana-Western?
The University of Montana-Western is located in Dillon, MT (ZIP 59725-3598).
NCES locale classification: Town remote.
Is The University of Montana-Western public or private?
The University of Montana-Western is a Public institution.
How much does The University of Montana-Western cost?
Published tuition: $6,670 in-state, $20,130 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $16,558.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $14,822 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $14,058 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,951 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $17,785 |
| $110,001+ | $20,125 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $26,680.
How hard is it to get into The University of Montana-Western?
Admission rate: 99.78%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is The University of Montana-Western?
Total enrollment: 1,198 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,664 students.
Graduate enrollment: 23 students.
About 85% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at The University of Montana-Western?
150%-time completion rate: 51.25%.
First-year retention: 78.6%.
What do graduates of The University of Montana-Western earn?
Median earnings: $37,252 six years after entry; $43,229 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $21,000.
35.21% of students receive Pell grants.
What is The University of Montana-Western known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching (66 completions)
- Education, General (55 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (53 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (43 completions)
- General Studies (24 completions)
- Equestrian/Equine Studies (23 completions)
- Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (21 completions)
- Physical Education Teaching and Coaching (19 completions)
- Military Applied Sciences, Other (19 completions)
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology (14 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is The University of Montana-Western a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 99.78%; completion rate 51.25%; median earnings $43,229 at 10 years; net price $16,558. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$6,670
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at The University of Montana-Western was $6,670.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$16,558
2024 Value
In 2024 The University of Montana-Western had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $16,558.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$66,232 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$16,558 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$26,680 4-Year In-State Tuition
$80,520 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$10,046 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,200 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$17,916 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$71,664 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for The University of Montana-Western.
Financial Aid by Income Level
35.21% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
34.44% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at The University of Montana-Western was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for The University of Montana-Western in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $4,141 | $14,860 | $9,132 |
| 2014 | $4,761 | $15,490 | $9,474 |
| 2015 | $4,835 | $15,995 | $9,475 |
| 2016 | $4,893 | $16,497 | $9,963 |
| 2017 | $5,502 | $16,716 | $12,576 |
| 2018 | $5,717 | $17,179 | $12,907 |
| 2019 | $5,725 | $17,187 | $13,929 |
| 2020 | $5,747 | $17,209 | $12,240 |
| 2021 | $5,726 | $17,190 | $12,938 |
| 2022 | $5,874 | $17,698 | $14,064 |
| 2023 | $6,430 | $19,038 | $16,669 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
99.78% Acceptance Rate
793 Total Applicants
789 Students Admitted
300 First-Time Students Enrolled
38.02% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
The University of Montana-Western reported total enrollment of about 1,198 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 36% male and 64% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (80.4%), Two or More Races (5.6%), and Hispanic or Latino (5.3%). About 35.21% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 36.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
85.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at The University of Montana-Western in 2024 is 1,198 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,664 students. Graduate enrollment is about 23 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
78.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 80.4%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
28.86% 100% Completion Time
51.25% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 28.86% of students graduating from The University of Montana-Western completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 3% male / 97% female
- Education, General: 27% male / 73% female
- Elementary Education and Teaching: 21% male / 79% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for The University of Montana-Western.
Return on Investment
$21,000 Median Student Debt
$43,229 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
48.58% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
552.69% Return on Investment
4.9 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for The University of Montana-Western.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 31 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 66 completions
2. Education, General: 55 completions
3. Elementary Education and Teaching: 53 completions
4. Business Administration and Management, General: 43 completions
5. General Studies: 24 completions
6. Equestrian/Equine Studies: 23 completions
7. Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other: 21 completions
8. Physical Education Teaching and Coaching: 19 completions
9. Military Applied Sciences, Other: 19 completions
Most popular programs at The University of Montana-Western.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for The University of Montana-Western graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for The University of Montana-Western from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,879
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,545
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
The University of Montana-Western is a public institution located in Dillon, MT, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Early Childhood Education & Teaching, Education, General, Elementary Education and Teaching. Enrollment is approximately 1,198 students. Student body composition includes White (80.4%), Two or More Races (5.6%), Hispanic or Latino (5.3%). The admission rate is 99.78%. The 150%-time completion rate is 51.25%. Approximately 35.21% of students receive Pell Grants. About 36.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Location
Dillon, MT 59725-3598
Region: Rocky Mountains
Insights and Analysis
The University of Montana-Western provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The University of Montana-Western located?
The University of Montana-Western is located in Dillon, MT.
What is The University of Montana-Western's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at The University of Montana-Western is 99.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 793 applicants and 789 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does The University of Montana-Western cost?
Reported tuition is $6,670 and average net price is $16,558 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $10,046 annually.
What is the student body demographics at The University of Montana-Western?
The University of Montana-Western reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,664 students, White (80.4%), Two or More Races (5.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend The University of Montana-Western?
About 36.0% of students at The University of Montana-Western are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of The University of Montana-Western earn?
Median earnings are $37,252 six years after entry and $43,229 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at The University of Montana-Western?
The 150%-time completion rate is 51.2% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do The University of Montana-Western students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,000.
Is The University of Montana-Western public or private?
The University of Montana-Western is a public institution located in Dillon, MT.
Is The University of Montana-Western an HBCU?
No. The University of Montana-Western is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is The University of Montana-Western a tribal college?
No. The University of Montana-Western is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is The University of Montana-Western a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, The University of Montana-Western does not meet that proxy (reported share 5.3%).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Montana college costs
- Montana colleges by ROI
- Rocky Mountains regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Montana
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.