The University of Montana vs. Western Washington University

Deciding between The University of Montana and Western Washington University? 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
Western Washington University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • The University of Montana Missoula, MT
  • Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
  • Setting
  • The University of Montana Small City
  • Western Washington University Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • The University of Montana 10,811
  • Western Washington University 14,710
  • Type
  • The University of Montana Public 4 Year
  • Western Washington University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • The University of Montana #754
  • Western Washington University #362
  • Religious Affiliation
  • The University of Montana -
  • Western Washington University -
  • Status
  • The University of Montana Non-profit
  • Western Washington University Non-profit
  • Website
  • The University of Montana umt.edu
  • Western Washington University wwu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • The University of Montana
  • Western Washington University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • The University of Montana $8,552
  • Western Washington University $9,582
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • The University of Montana $33,671
  • Western Washington University $28,707
  • Room & Board
  • The University of Montana $12,804
  • Western Washington University $15,747
  • Average Net Price
  • The University of Montana $17,370
  • Western Washington University $24,338
  • Average Grant Aid
  • The University of Montana $9,799
  • Western Washington University $6,902
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • The University of Montana 83%
  • Western Washington University 93%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • The University of Montana Calculate
  • Western Washington University Calculate
  • Applied
  • The University of Montana 9,576
  • Western Washington University 14,115
  • Admitted
  • The University of Montana 9,180
  • Western Washington University 13,162
  • Acceptance Rate
  • The University of Montana 95.9%
  • Western Washington University 93.2%
  • Enrolled
  • The University of Montana 19.3%
  • Western Washington University 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • The University of Montana 1180
  • Western Washington University 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • The University of Montana 22
  • Western Washington University 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • The University of Montana 3.36
  • Western Washington University 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • The University of Montana B+
  • Western Washington University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • The University of Montana Average
  • Western Washington University Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • The University of Montana
  • Western Washington University
  • ACT Range
  • The University of Montana 18/26
  • Western Washington University 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • The University of Montana 1070/1280
  • Western Washington University 1150/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • The University of Montana Test optional
  • Western Washington University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • The University of Montana Aug 18, 2027
  • Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • The University of Montana 17:1
  • Western Washington University 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • The University of Montana
    • Business (22%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • Western Washington University
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • The University of Montana 39%
  • Western Washington University 43%
  • % Women
  • The University of Montana 61%
  • Western Washington University 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • The University of Montana Very Low
  • Western Washington University Medium
  • HBCU
  • The University of Montana No
  • Western Washington University No
  • % White
  • The University of Montana 79%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • % Asian
  • The University of Montana 1%
  • Western Washington University 7%
  • % Black
  • The University of Montana 1%
  • Western Washington University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • The University of Montana 4%
  • Western Washington University 8%
  • % Native American
  • The University of Montana 3%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • The University of Montana 0%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • The University of Montana 4%
  • Western Washington University 9%
  • % International
  • The University of Montana 2%
  • Western Washington University 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • The University of Montana 5%
  • Western Washington University 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • The University of Montana 59%
  • Western Washington University 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • The University of Montana 39%
  • Western Washington University 16%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Western Washington University is larger than The University of Montana based on total student enrollment (14,710 students vs. 10,811 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The University of Montana is located in Missoula, MT (Small City setting); Western Washington University is in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting).
  • The University of Montana is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Washington University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The University of Montana 17:1; Western Washington University 18:1.

The University of Montana vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, The University of Montana or Western Washington University? 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 than Western Washington University ($17,370 vs. $24,338).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Montana are 18.7% lower than at Western Washington University ($12,804 vs. $15,747).
  • Western Washington University is 12% more expensive for in-state tuition than The University of Montana (about $1,030 more per year; $9,582.00 vs. $8,552.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.3% higher at The University of Montana than at Western Washington University (about $4,964 more per year; $33,671.00 vs. $28,707.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Washington University than at The University of Montana (93% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Montana students is 42% larger than aid received by Western Washington University students ($9,799 vs. $6,902).

The University of Montana vs. Western Washington University Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Washington University (1270) is 90 points higher than at The University of Montana (1180).
  • Incoming Western Washington University students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 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; Western Washington University 1150/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Montana 18/26; Western Washington University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: The University of Montana - Test optional; Western Washington University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: The University of Montana Aug 18, 2027; Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027.
  • 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 (95.9%) than Western Washington University (93.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.3% at The University of Montana vs. 22.9% at Western Washington University.

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

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

  • Western Washington University's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than The University of Montana's (47%).
  • Graduates from Western Washington University earn a median of about $7,000 more per year than The University of Montana graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,000 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Washington University graduates have a $3,770 lower median loan debt than The University of Montana graduates ($19,413 vs. $23,183).
  • Among borrowers, Western Washington University graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.