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ECU ASU MSU UNC Charlotte UNCW University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU UO UNCG NC State Washington State UNC Chapel Hill| The University of Montana | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
The University of Montana | WCU | ||
| Location | Missoula, MT | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 10,327 | 11,628 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #726 | #742 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | umt.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
The University of Montana | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,736 | $1,000 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $28,800 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,192 | $11,764 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,775 | $12,252 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,208 | $5,442 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 87% | 99% |
Admission |
The University of Montana | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,464 | 18,183 | ||
| Admitted | 9,048 | 15,758 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 95.6% | 86.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.3% | 13.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.36 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/26 | 20/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1070/1280 | 1050/1260 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 18, 2026 | Mar 1, 2026 |
Academics |
The University of Montana | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
The University of Montana | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 47% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,000 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 59% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,183 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $239 | $227 |
Diversity |
The University of Montana | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 18% | 10% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
The University of Montana | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 55% | 78% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 44% | 19% | ||
Campus |
The University of Montana | WCU | ||
| 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
- Western Carolina University is larger than than The University of Montana based on total student enrollment (11,628 students vs. 10,327 students)
The University of Montana vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, The University of Montana or WCU?
- The University of Montana is 473.6% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($5,736.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 476% higher at The University of Montana than Western Carolina University ($28,800.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than The University of Montana ($12,252 vs. $17,775)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 3.6% lower than costs at The University of Montana ($11,764 vs. $12,192)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than The University of Montana (99% vs. 87%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Montana students is 69.2% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($9,208 vs. $5,442)
The University of Montana vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, The University of Montana or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or The University of Montana .
- The average SAT score at The University of Montana (1090) is 58 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming The University of Montana students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at The University of Montana (3.36)
- The University of Montana has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than WCU (86.7%)
The University of Montana vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, The University of Montana or WCU? 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 WCU and The University of Montana.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than The University of Montana (50% vs. 47%)
- Graduates from The University of Montana earn on average $1,900 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($41,000 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $1,173 lower median federal student loan debt than The University of Montana graduates. ($22,010 vs. $23,183)
- WCU graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than The University of Montana graduates. ($227 vs. $239)
- More The University of Montana graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/