The University of Montana vs. UW

Should I go to The University of Montana or University of Wyoming? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if The University of Montana or UW 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. University of Wyoming comparison
The University of Montana University of Wyoming College 3 College 4
The University of Montana University of Wyoming
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Overview

The University of Montana UW
Location Missoula, MT Laramie, WY
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 9,955 11,100
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #724 #331
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umt.edu uwyo.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

The University of Montana UW
Tuition (In State) $5,515 $4,800
Tuition (Out of State) $27,168 $19,950
Room & Board $11,608 $11,610
Avg Net Price $16,361 $12,819
Avg Grant Aid $5,645 $8,942
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

The University of Montana UW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,943 5,797
Admitted 8,530 5,564
Acceptance Rate 95.4% 96%
Enrolled % 19% 29.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/26 21/28
SAT Range 1070/1280 1040/1240
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 Aug 10, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

The University of Montana UW
% Men 40% 46%
% Women 60% 54%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 76%
% Black 1% 1%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 3% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 5% 7%

Students

The University of Montana UW
% In-State 55% 56%
% Out-of-State 44% 40%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Wyoming is larger than than The University of Montana based on total student enrollment (11,100 students vs. 9,955 students)

The University of Montana vs. UW Cost Comparison

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

  • The University of Montana is 14.9% more expensive to attend than UW for in-state tuition ($5,515.00 vs. $4,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.2% higher at The University of Montana than University of Wyoming ($27,168.00 vs. $19,950.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wyoming than The University of Montana ($12,819 vs. $16,361)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Montana are 0% lower than costs at University of Wyoming ($11,608 vs. $11,610)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Montana than University of Wyoming (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wyoming students is 58.4% larger than aid received The University of Montana ($8,942 vs. $5,645)

The University of Montana vs. UW Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Wyoming (1122) is 32 points higher than at The University of Montana (1090)
  • Incoming UW students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at The University of Montana (24)
  • 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%) than The University of Montana (95.4%)

The University of Montana vs. UW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, The University of Montana or UW? 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 UW and The University of Montana.

  • The graduation rate at UW is higher than The University of Montana (53% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from University of Wyoming earn on average $10,400 more per year than The University of Montana graduates after ten years. ($51,400 vs. $41,000)
  • University of Wyoming students graduate with a $4,683 lower median federal student loan debt than The University of Montana graduates. ($18,500 vs. $23,183)
  • UW graduates are paying $48 less per month on federal student loans 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/