The University of Montana-Western
Dillon, MT 59725-3598
About The University of Montana-Western
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 findings
- The University of Montana-Western charges 21% above the national public median tuition ($6,670).
- Versus the Montana median, sticker tuition is 34% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 51.25%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $43,229.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at The University of Montana-Western is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 553% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Montana-Western | $6,670 | $16,558 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Montana (state median) | $4,961 | $12,030 | 24 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is The University of Montana-Western really?
Key findings
- The University of Montana-Western charges 21% above the national public median tuition ($6,670).
- Versus the Montana median, sticker tuition is 34% above.
The University of Montana-Western tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $6,670
Finding The University of Montana-Western charges 21% above the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $6,670. That is 21% above the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Montana median ($4,961), sticker tuition is 34% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.6×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at The University of Montana-Western versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at The University of Montana-Western versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at The University of Montana-Western is $16,558.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $16,558 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $4,528 above the Montana median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $1,587 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At The University of Montana-Western, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
The University of Montana-Western: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for The University of Montana-Western—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$6,670
Out-of-state tuition
$20,130
Avg. net price
$16,558
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $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. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What The University of Montana-Western is known for
Top program completions
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching66
- Education, General55
- Elementary Education and Teaching53
- Business Administration and Management, General43
- General Studies24
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 38% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is The University of Montana-Western a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
The University of Montana-Western is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for The University of Montana-Western.
Campus
Location
Dillon, MT
City / state
- ZIP
- 59725-3598
- NCES locale
- Town remote
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 11% above the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Rocky Mountains
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Size
Enrollment
1,198
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 1,664
- Graduate
- 23
- Full-time share
- 85%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$21,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 35.21%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for The University of Montana-Western.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
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
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
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
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
The University of Montana-Western graduates earn a median of $43,229 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of The University of Montana-Western.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $43,229. Median federal loan debt: $21,000. Average net price used in cost models: $16,558.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway The University of Montana-Western graduates report median earnings of $43,229 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for The University of Montana-Western.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (31 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at The University of Montana-Western.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for The University of Montana-Western graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for The University of Montana-Western—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$7.6M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Montana median near the median ($7.6M)
- Rocky Mountains median 0.39× the median ($19.5M)
- U.S. median 0.29× the median ($26.4M)
- Montana median 0.41× the median ($13,979)
- Rocky Mountains median 0.56× the median ($10,274)
- U.S. median 0.48× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Montana median 30.4 pp above median (69.6%)
- Rocky Mountains median 26.7 pp above median (73.3%)
- U.S. median 42.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,879
- Montana median 1.2× the median ($6,543)
- Rocky Mountains median 1.1× the median ($7,458)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,545
- Montana median 0.68× the median ($9,613)
- Rocky Mountains median near the median ($6,852)
- U.S. median 0.90× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
The University of Montana-Western at a glance
The University of Montana-Western
The University of Montana-Western is a public institution in Dillon, MT, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Early Childhood Education & TeachingEducation, GeneralElementary Education and Teaching
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian80.4%Two or More Races5.6%Hispanic or Latino5.3%
Schools near The University of Montana-Western
Other campuses in Dillon, MT when available, plus nearby institutions in Montana.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within Montana, then by similar ownership and admissions.
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.
What is The University of Montana-Western's tuition?
The University of Montana-Western tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $6,670 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $16,558 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
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 explains The University of Montana-Western's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($16,558), completion (51.2% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($43,229). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
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.
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
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.