The University of Montana vs. UM Western

Should I go to The University of Montana or The University of Montana Western? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if The University of Montana or UM Western is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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The University of Montana vs. The University of Montana Western comparison
The University of Montana The University of Montana Western College 3 College 4
The University of Montana
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Overview

The University of Montana UM Western
Location Missoula, MT Dillon, MT
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 9,955 1,424
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #724 #931
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umt.edu umwestern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

The University of Montana UM Western
Tuition (In State) $5,515 $4,658
Tuition (Out of State) $27,168 $16,406
Room & Board $11,608 $8,588
Avg Net Price $16,361 $11,584
Avg Grant Aid $5,645 $8,117
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

The University of Montana UM Western
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,943 1,476
Admitted 8,530 536
Acceptance Rate 95.4% 36.3%Open
Enrolled % 19% 50.6%Open
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.2
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Average Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 18/26 16/21
SAT Range 1070/1280 890/1120
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 18, 2025

Academics

The University of Montana UM Western
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Education (47%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
  • Agriculture (6%)
  • General Studies (4%)

Outcomes

The University of Montana UM Western
Graduation Rate 47% 31%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,000 $34,100
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,183 $20,929
Median Loan Payment $239 $216

Diversity

The University of Montana UM Western
% Men 40% 32%
% Women 60% 68%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 88%
% Black 1% 1%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 3% 3%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

The University of Montana UM Western
% In-State 55% 57%
% Out-of-State 44% 43%

Campus

The University of Montana UM Western
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Montana is larger than than UM Western based on total student enrollment (9,955 students vs. 1,424 students)

The University of Montana vs. UM Western Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, The University of Montana or UM Western?

  • The University of Montana is 18.4% more expensive to attend than UM Western for in-state tuition ($5,515.00 vs. $4,658.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 65.6% higher at The University of Montana than The University of Montana Western ($27,168.00 vs. $16,406.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Montana Western than The University of Montana ($11,584 vs. $16,361)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Montana Western are 35.2% lower than costs at The University of Montana ($8,588 vs. $11,608)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Montana than The University of Montana Western (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Montana Western students is 43.8% larger than aid received The University of Montana ($8,117 vs. $5,645)

The University of Montana vs. UM Western Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, The University of Montana or UM Western? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UM Western or The University of Montana .

  • Accepted freshman The University of Montana students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at UM Western (3.2)
  • The University of Montana has a higher acceptance rate (95.4%) than UM Western (36.3%)

The University of Montana vs. UM Western Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, The University of Montana or UM Western? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UM Western and The University of Montana.

  • The graduation rate at The University of Montana is higher than The University of Montana Western (47% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from The University of Montana earn on average $6,900 more per year than UM Western graduates after ten years. ($41,000 vs. $34,100)
  • The University of Montana Western students graduate with a $2,254 lower median federal student loan debt than The University of Montana graduates. ($20,929 vs. $23,183)
  • UM Western graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than The University of Montana graduates. ($216 vs. $239)
  • More UM Western graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The University of Montana students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/