The University of Montana-Western is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Dillon, Montana. It enrolls 1,198 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes48
Value47
Affordability62
Selectivity0
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 99.8%, The University of Montana-Western is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
99.8%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether The University of Montana-Western is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
43.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending The University of Montana-Western isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,558 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,558
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
35%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
34%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$6,670
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$20,130
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,046
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,870
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,516
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,516
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,403
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$14,822
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,058
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,951
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,785
Over $110,000
$20,125
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,38125%percentile
$21,000Medianpercentile
$23,50075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $13,327
↓ $7,673
No Pell $10,846
↓ $10,154
Dependent students $12,000
↓ $9,000
Independent students $14,091
↓ $6,909
Female students $12,000
↓ $9,000
Male students $11,263
↓ $9,737
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,050, less than completers ($21,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
35% of full-time students who enrolled at The University of Montana-Western graduate within six years, and 79% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
35%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
79%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered The University of Montana-Western earn a median of $43,229 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$43,229
Earning > $25K
73%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$27,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$47,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$30,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$37,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $19,600, about 41% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$2.6 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
The University of Montana-Western is home to 1,198 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,198
Part-Time
15%
First-Generation
36%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 80.4%963
Other 11.2%134
Hispanic 5.3%63
Black 1.3%15
Asian 0.4%5
International 0.3%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at The University of Montana-Western. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteDillon, Montana
Housing
Partly residential430 beds available
Adult Learners
22%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
The University of Montana-Western offers
a varied set of programs:
22 distinct programs across
14 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at The University of Montana-Western is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,415
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$7.6M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$62,879
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
68 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
26
38%
$77,361
Associate Professors
17
25%
$62,711
Assistant Professors
13
19%
$46,425
Instructors
12
18%
$49,566
Pros & Cons of The University of Montana-Western
A quick at-a-glance summary of how The University of Montana-Western tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Best for:
Based on the data, The University of Montana-Western is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about The University of Montana-Western
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about The University of Montana-Western.
Is The University of Montana-Western hard to get into?
The University of Montana-Western has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 99.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at The University of Montana-Western?
The University of Montana-Western has an acceptance rate of 99.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does The University of Montana-Western cost?
The average net price after aid at The University of Montana-Western is $16,558 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is The University of Montana-Western worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,229 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,558 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is The University of Montana-Western known for?
The University of Montana-Western is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Teacher Education (K-12), Education, General. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do The University of Montana-Western graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering The University of Montana-Western are $43,229, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is The University of Montana-Western accredited?
Yes. The University of Montana-Western is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend The University of Montana-Western?
The University of Montana-Western enrolls 1,198 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at The University of Montana-Western?
The University of Montana-Western graduates 35% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is The University of Montana-Western a public or private college?
The University of Montana-Western is a Public institution.
Where is The University of Montana-Western located?
The University of Montana-Western is located in Dillon, Montana.
What programs does The University of Montana-Western offer?
The University of Montana-Western offers 22 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Teacher Education (K-12), Education, General.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at The University of Montana-Western?
The student-to-faculty ratio at The University of Montana-Western is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Montana
Other colleges in Montana share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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