The University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812
About The University of Montana
The University of Montana is a public research university in Missoula, Montana, serving roughly 7,488 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 95.86% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $44,511 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- The University of Montana charges 55% above the national public median tuition ($8,552).
- Versus the Montana median, sticker tuition is 72% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 47.96%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $44,511.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at The University of Montana is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 563% 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.
Finding
The University of Montana awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 153 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Montana | $8,552 | $16,784 | 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 really?
Key findings
- The University of Montana charges 55% above the national public median tuition ($8,552).
- Versus the Montana median, sticker tuition is 72% above.
The University of Montana tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $8,552
Finding The University of Montana charges 55% above the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $8,552. That is 55% above the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Montana median ($4,961), sticker tuition is 72% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 28% below.
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 versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at The University of Montana versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at The University of Montana is $16,784.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $16,784 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $4,754 above the Montana median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $1,813 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, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
The University of Montana: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for The University of Montana—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
$8,552
Out-of-state tuition
$33,671
Avg. net price
$16,784
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $13,960 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $14,892 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $17,180 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $19,269 |
| $110,001+ | $20,930 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $34,208. 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 is known for
Top program completions
- Physical Therapy/Therapist273
- Psychology, General127
- Business Administration and Management, General113
- General Studies108
- Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance82
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 18% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1190
- Midpoint ACT: 22
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is The University of Montana a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
The University of Montana 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.
Campus
Location
Missoula, MT
City / state
- ZIP
- 59812
- NCES locale
- Town
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 12% above the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Rocky Mountains
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
7,488
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 9,728
- Graduate
- 2,920
- Full-time share
- 86%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$22,400
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 28.03%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for The University of Montana.
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 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 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 | $6,045 | $21,719 | $12,776 |
| 2014 | $6,099 | $22,372 | $12,863 |
| 2015 | $6,158 | $23,048 | $12,679 |
| 2016 | $6,238 | $23,764 | $13,978 |
| 2017 | $7,063 | $24,943 | $15,006 |
| 2018 | $7,244 | $24,959 | $15,353 |
| 2019 | $7,354 | $26,218 | $15,246 |
| 2020 | $7,430 | $27,256 | $14,755 |
| 2021 | $7,432 | $28,416 | $13,799 |
| 2022 | $7,719 | $29,634 | $14,856 |
| 2023 | $8,152 | $31,622 | $17,118 |
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
Average 1190 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 22 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
The University of Montana reported total enrollment of about 7,488 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 43% male and 57% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (71.2%), Two or More Races (14.5%), and Hispanic or Latino (6.2%). About 28.03% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 30.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
85.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at The University of Montana in 2024 is 7,488 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 9,728 students. Graduate enrollment is about 2,920 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
74.8%
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
33.64% 100% Completion Time
47.96% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 33.64% of students graduating from The University of Montana completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Physical Therapy/Therapist: 36% male / 64% female
- Psychology, General: 20% male / 80% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 58% male / 42% 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 graduates earn a median of $44,511 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of The University of Montana.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $44,511. Median federal loan debt: $22,400. Average net price used in cost models: $16,784.
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 graduates report median earnings of $44,511 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.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (153 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at The University of Montana.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for The University of Montana graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for The University of Montana—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$255.1M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Montana median 33× the median ($7.6M)
- Rocky Mountains median 13× the median ($19.5M)
- U.S. median 9.7× the median ($26.4M)
- Montana median 2.2× the median ($13,979)
- Rocky Mountains median 3.0× the median ($10,274)
- U.S. median 2.6× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 68.7%
- Montana median 1.0 pp below median (69.6%)
- Rocky Mountains median 4.7 pp below median (73.3%)
- U.S. median 10.7 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $9,310
- Montana median 1.4× the median ($6,543)
- Rocky Mountains median 1.2× the median ($7,458)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,436
- Montana median 1.1× the median ($9,613)
- Rocky Mountains median 1.5× the median ($6,852)
- U.S. median 1.4× 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 at a glance
The University of Montana
The University of Montana is a public institution in Missoula, MT, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Physical Therapy/TherapistPsychology, GeneralBusiness Administration and Management, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian71.2%Two or More Races14.5%Hispanic or Latino6.2%
Schools near The University of Montana
Other campuses in Missoula, 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 located?
The University of Montana is located in Missoula, MT.
What is The University of Montana's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at The University of Montana is 95.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 9,464 applicants and 9,048 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is The University of Montana's tuition?
The University of Montana tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $8,552 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $16,784 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does The University of Montana cost?
Reported tuition is $8,552 and average net price is $16,784 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,804 annually.
What explains The University of Montana's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($16,784), completion (48.0% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($44,511). 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?
The University of Montana reports undergraduate enrollment of about 9,728 students, White (71.2%), Two or More Races (14.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend The University of Montana?
About 30.2% of students at The University of Montana are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for The University of Montana?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, The University of Montana reports midpoint SAT about 1190 and midpoint ACT about 22.
What do graduates of The University of Montana earn?
Median earnings are $35,729 six years after entry and $44,511 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at The University of Montana?
The 150%-time completion rate is 48.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do The University of Montana students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $22,400.
Is The University of Montana public or private?
The University of Montana is a public institution located in Missoula, MT.
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 profile
- Montana college costs
- Montana colleges by ROI
- Montana State University vs The University of Montana vs Montana State University Billings
- Rocky Mountains regional profile
- Town college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- 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 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.