The University of Montana vs. Western Washington University

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

The University of Montana Western Washington University
Location Missoula, MT Bellingham, WA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 9,955 14,747
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #724 #378
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umt.edu wwu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

The University of Montana Western Washington University
Tuition (In State) $5,515 $7,760
Tuition (Out of State) $27,168 $25,666
Room & Board $11,608 $14,691
Avg Net Price $16,361 $21,105
Avg Grant Aid $5,645 $6,522
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 91%

Admission

The University of Montana Western Washington University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,943 11,864
Admitted 8,530 10,997
Acceptance Rate 95.4% 92.7%
Enrolled % 19% 29.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.46
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/26 25/30
SAT Range 1070/1280 1130/1340
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, 2025 Jan 31, 2025

Academics

The University of Montana Western Washington University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

The University of Montana Western Washington University
Graduation Rate 47% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,000 $48,000
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,183 $19,413
Median Loan Payment $239 $200

Diversity

The University of Montana Western Washington University
% Men 40% 42%
% Women 60% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 73%
% Black 1% 2%
% Hispanic 4% 8%
% Native American 3% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 9%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

The University of Montana Western Washington University
% In-State 55% 83%
% Out-of-State 44% 17%

Campus

The University of Montana Western Washington University
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 Washington University is larger than than The University of Montana based on total student enrollment (14,747 students vs. 9,955 students)

The University of Montana vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison

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

  • Western Washington University is 40.7% more expensive to attend than The University of Montana for in-state tuition ($7,760.00 vs. $5,515.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.9% higher at The University of Montana than Western Washington University ($27,168.00 vs. $25,666.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Montana than Western Washington University ($16,361 vs. $21,105)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Montana are 26.6% lower than costs at Western Washington University ($11,608 vs. $14,691)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Montana than Western Washington University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Washington University students is 15.5% larger than aid received The University of Montana ($6,522 vs. $5,645)

The University of Montana vs. Western Washington University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Washington University (1114) is 24 points higher than at The University of Montana (1090)
  • Incoming Western Washington University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at The University of Montana (24)
  • Accepted freshman Western Washington University students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at The University of Montana (3.36)
  • The University of Montana has a higher acceptance rate (95.4%) than Western Washington University (92.7%)

The University of Montana vs. Western Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Western Washington University is higher than The University of Montana (73% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Western Washington University earn on average $7,000 more per year than The University of Montana graduates after ten years. ($48,000 vs. $41,000)
  • Western Washington University students graduate with a $3,770 lower median federal student loan debt than The University of Montana graduates. ($19,413 vs. $23,183)
  • Western Washington University graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than The University of Montana graduates. ($200 vs. $239)
  • More Western Washington University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The University of Montana students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 59%)

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