The University of Montana vs. UM Western

Deciding between The University of Montana and The University of Montana Western? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

The University of Montana

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • The University of Montana Missoula, MT
  • UM Western Dillon, MT
  • Setting
  • The University of Montana Small City
  • UM Western Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • The University of Montana 10,811
  • UM Western 1,358
  • Type
  • The University of Montana Public 4 Year
  • UM Western Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • The University of Montana #754
  • UM Western #1033
  • Religious Affiliation
  • The University of Montana -
  • UM Western -
  • Status
  • The University of Montana Non-profit
  • UM Western Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • The University of Montana
  • UM Western

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • The University of Montana $8,552
  • UM Western $6,670
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • The University of Montana $33,671
  • UM Western $20,130
  • Room & Board
  • The University of Montana $12,804
  • UM Western $10,046
  • Average Net Price
  • The University of Montana $17,370
  • UM Western $16,745
  • Average Grant Aid
  • The University of Montana $9,799
  • UM Western $4,794
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • The University of Montana 83%
  • UM Western 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • The University of Montana 9,576
  • UM Western 1,371
  • Admitted
  • The University of Montana 9,180
  • UM Western 1,368
  • Acceptance Rate
  • The University of Montana 95.9%
  • UM Western 99.8% Open
  • Enrolled
  • The University of Montana 19.3%
  • UM Western 16.5% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • The University of Montana 1180
  • UM Western 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • The University of Montana 22
  • UM Western 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • The University of Montana 3.36
  • UM Western 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • The University of Montana B+
  • UM Western B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • The University of Montana Average
  • UM Western Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • The University of Montana
  • UM Western
  • ACT Range
  • The University of Montana 18/26
  • UM Western 16/21
  • SAT Range
  • The University of Montana 1070/1280
  • UM Western 890/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • The University of Montana Test optional
  • UM Western Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • The University of Montana Aug 18, 2027
  • UM Western

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • The University of Montana 17:1
  • UM Western 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • The University of Montana
    • Business (22%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • UM Western
    • Education (47%)
    • Business (25%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Agriculture (6%)
    • General Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • The University of Montana 39%
  • UM Western 36%
  • % Women
  • The University of Montana 61%
  • UM Western 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • The University of Montana Very Low
  • UM Western Very Low
  • HBCU
  • The University of Montana No
  • UM Western No
  • % White
  • The University of Montana 79%
  • UM Western 88%
  • % Asian
  • The University of Montana 1%
  • UM Western 1%
  • % Black
  • The University of Montana 1%
  • UM Western 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • The University of Montana 4%
  • UM Western 3%
  • % Native American
  • The University of Montana 3%
  • UM Western 3%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • The University of Montana 0%
  • UM Western 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • The University of Montana 4%
  • UM Western 2%
  • % International
  • The University of Montana 2%
  • UM Western 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • The University of Montana 5%
  • UM Western 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • The University of Montana 59%
  • UM Western 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • The University of Montana 39%
  • UM Western 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare The University of Montana in Missoula, MT with The University of Montana Western in Dillon, MT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Montana is larger than UM Western based on total student enrollment (10,811 students vs. 1,358 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The University of Montana is located in Missoula, MT (Small City setting); The University of Montana Western is in Dillon, MT (Remote Town setting).
  • The University of Montana is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Montana Western is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The University of Montana 17:1; The University of Montana Western 16:1.

The University of Montana vs. UM Western Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, The University of Montana or UM Western? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • 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 ($16,745 vs. $17,370).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Montana Western are 21.5% lower than at The University of Montana ($10,046 vs. $12,804).
  • The University of Montana is 28.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UM Western (about $1,882 more per year; $8,552.00 vs. $6,670.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 67.3% higher at The University of Montana than at The University of Montana Western (about $13,541 more per year; $33,671.00 vs. $20,130.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Montana than at The University of Montana Western (83% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Montana students is 104.4% larger than aid received by The University of Montana Western students ($9,799 vs. $4,794).

The University of Montana vs. UM Western Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, The University of Montana or UM Western? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UM Western and The University of Montana.

  • The University of Montana Western reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Montana (1180) is 170 points higher than at UM Western (1010).
  • Incoming The University of Montana students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 18 at UM Western).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Montana 1070/1280; The University of Montana Western 890/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Montana 18/26; The University of Montana Western 16/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: The University of Montana - Test optional; UM Western - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: The University of Montana Aug 18, 2027.
  • 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).
  • UM Western has a higher acceptance rate (99.8%) than The University of Montana (95.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.3% at The University of Montana vs. 16.5% at UM Western.

The University of Montana vs. UM Western Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for The University of Montana and UM Western? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • The University of Montana's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than The University of Montana Western's (31%).
  • Graduates from The University of Montana earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than UM Western graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Montana Western graduates have a $2,254 lower median loan debt than The University of Montana graduates ($20,929 vs. $23,183).
  • Among borrowers, UM Western graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.