The University of Montana
PublicMissoula, MT
Located in Missoula, MT, The University of Montana is a public mid-sized school with roughly 7,488 undergraduates. Admissions are not highly selective, admitting a majority of applicants here -- roughly 96% of applicants get in. Its highest-earning reported major is Computer and Information Sciences, General (Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services), where graduates report median earnings of $91,943/year four years out. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from The University of Montana's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 10% submitted SAT scores, 45% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Early Action: Dec 1, 2026
Confirm on The University of Montana's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
Out-of-state students pay $25,144 more per year in tuition and fees (3.6x the in-state rate).
Tuition & fees are The University of Montana's own published 2026-27 rates (source); other figures are from the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Paying less as an out-of-state student
The University of Montana takes part in this regional program, which can cut the out-of-state rate for students from nearby states.
Western Undergraduate Exchange
Students from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and the Pacific territories pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition. Each school sets its own requirements, often a GPA minimum, and some majors are left out.
The University of Montana's published WUE rate for 2026-27: $13,774 a year in tuition and fees (source).
Where do you stand against The University of Montana's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow The University of Montana weighs your application
From The University of Montana's own Common Data Set, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what The University of Montana weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does The University of Montana look for in applicants?
Per The University of Montana's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is The University of Montana's acceptance rate?
The University of Montana in Missoula, MT admits approximately 96% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for The University of Montana?
Per The University of Montana's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1110–1280 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for The University of Montana?
Per The University of Montana's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 19–26 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does The University of Montana cost?
The University of Montana's total cost of attendance is reported at $23,570 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
Does The University of Montana offer reduced tuition for out-of-state students?
Yes -- The University of Montana takes part in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, a regional program that lets qualifying out-of-state students pay less than the full out-of-state rate. Eligibility depends on your home state, and the school sets its own requirements.
What is out-of-state tuition at The University of Montana?
For 2026-27, The University of Montana's tuition and required fees are $34,894 for out-of-state students and $9,750 for in-state students -- $25,144 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.
When is the application deadline for The University of Montana?
The University of Montana's deadlines are Early Action Dec 1, 2026, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does The University of Montana require students to live on campus?
No -- The University of Montana doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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