The University of Montana vs. UW

Deciding between The University of Montana and University of Wyoming? 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
University of Wyoming

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • The University of Montana Missoula, MT
  • UW Laramie, WY
  • Setting
  • The University of Montana Small City
  • UW Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • The University of Montana 10,811
  • UW 10,813
  • Type
  • The University of Montana Public 4 Year
  • UW Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • The University of Montana #754
  • UW #335
  • Religious Affiliation
  • The University of Montana -
  • UW -
  • Status
  • The University of Montana Non-profit
  • UW Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • The University of Montana
  • UW
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • The University of Montana $8,552
  • UW $7,768
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • The University of Montana $33,671
  • UW $24,178
  • Room & Board
  • The University of Montana $12,804
  • UW $13,710
  • Average Net Price
  • The University of Montana $17,370
  • UW $14,872
  • Average Grant Aid
  • The University of Montana $9,799
  • UW $10,212
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • The University of Montana 83%
  • UW 90%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • The University of Montana 9,576
  • UW 6,217
  • Admitted
  • The University of Montana 9,180
  • UW 6,023
  • Acceptance Rate
  • The University of Montana 95.9%
  • UW 96.9%
  • Enrolled
  • The University of Montana 19.3%
  • UW 23.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • The University of Montana 1180
  • UW 1140
  • Typical ACT score
  • The University of Montana 22
  • UW 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • The University of Montana 3.36
  • UW 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • The University of Montana B+
  • UW A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • The University of Montana Average
  • UW Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • The University of Montana
  • UW
  • ACT Range
  • The University of Montana 18/26
  • UW 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • The University of Montana 1070/1280
  • UW 1040/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • The University of Montana Test optional
  • UW Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • The University of Montana Aug 18, 2027
  • UW Aug 10, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • The University of Montana 17:1
  • UW 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • The University of Montana
    • Business (22%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • UW
    • Business (12%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • The University of Montana 47%
  • UW 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • The University of Montana $41,000
  • UW $51,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • The University of Montana 59%
  • UW 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • The University of Montana $23,183
  • UW $18,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • The University of Montana $239
  • UW $191
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • The University of Montana 39%
  • UW 45%
  • % Women
  • The University of Montana 61%
  • UW 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • The University of Montana Very Low
  • UW Low
  • HBCU
  • The University of Montana No
  • UW No
  • % White
  • The University of Montana 79%
  • UW 76%
  • % Asian
  • The University of Montana 1%
  • UW 1%
  • % Black
  • The University of Montana 1%
  • UW 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • The University of Montana 4%
  • UW 7%
  • % Native American
  • The University of Montana 3%
  • UW 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • The University of Montana 0%
  • UW 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • The University of Montana 4%
  • UW 3%
  • % International
  • The University of Montana 2%
  • UW 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • The University of Montana 5%
  • UW 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • The University of Montana 59%
  • UW 58%
  • % Out-of-State
  • The University of Montana 39%
  • UW 37%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Wyoming is larger than The University of Montana based on total student enrollment (10,813 students vs. 10,811 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The University of Montana is located in Missoula, MT (Small City setting); University of Wyoming is in Laramie, WY (Remote Town setting).
  • The University of Montana is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wyoming is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The University of Montana 17:1; University of Wyoming 13:1.

The University of Montana vs. UW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, The University of Montana or UW? 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 University of Wyoming than The University of Montana ($14,872 vs. $17,370).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Montana are 6.6% lower than at University of Wyoming ($12,804 vs. $13,710).
  • The University of Montana is 10.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UW (about $784 more per year; $8,552.00 vs. $7,768.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.3% higher at The University of Montana than at University of Wyoming (about $9,493 more per year; $33,671.00 vs. $24,178.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Wyoming than at The University of Montana (90% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wyoming students is 4.2% larger than aid received by The University of Montana students ($10,212 vs. $9,799).

The University of Montana vs. UW Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, The University of Montana or UW? 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 UW and The University of Montana.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Montana (1180) is 40 points higher than at UW (1140).
  • Incoming UW students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 22 at The University of Montana).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Montana 1070/1280; University of Wyoming 1040/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Montana 18/26; University of Wyoming 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: The University of Montana - Test optional; UW - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: The University of Montana Aug 18, 2027; UW Aug 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UW students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at The University of Montana (3.36).
  • UW has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than The University of Montana (95.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.3% at The University of Montana vs. 23.8% at UW.

The University of Montana vs. UW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for The University of Montana and UW? 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).

  • University of Wyoming's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than The University of Montana's (47%).
  • Graduates from University of Wyoming earn a median of about $10,400 more per year than The University of Montana graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,400 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wyoming graduates have a $4,683 lower median loan debt than The University of Montana graduates ($18,500 vs. $23,183).
  • Among borrowers, UW graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than The University of Montana graduates ($191 vs. $239).
  • More UW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The University of Montana students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.