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The University of Montana

#425 in US ranking Missoula, MT
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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The University of Montana award

Cost

Cost / year
$26,512
Tuition & fees
$11,176
Avg. aid
$7,975
Receiving aid
91%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
96%
Avg. SAT
1175
ACT range
23–28

Outcomes

Graduation rate
48%
Median salary
$40,109
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of The University of Montana?

The University of Montana holds institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation or approval that may apply to an individual professional program.

For students, institutional accreditation is relevant to federal financial-aid eligibility and is commonly considered when another institution reviews transfer credit. It does not guarantee that credits will transfer or satisfy a particular major. Students considering fields such as law, pharmacy, education or health care should also check the current accreditation, approval and licensing requirements for their specific program and the state where they intend to work.

What are the admission requirements at The University of Montana?

First-year applicants to the University of Montana generally apply with a completed application and an official secondary-school academic record showing graduation or an accepted equivalent. The university reviews GPA and college-preparatory coursework; it does not operate an open-admission policy for degree-seeking applicants.

In the reported admissions criteria, SAT and ACT scores are considered when submitted but are not required. Recommendations are neither required nor recommended for general admission. Students applying to particular programs should check for separate prerequisites or selection procedures. Applicants whose education was completed outside the United States may need additional credential documentation, and international applicants must meet the university's English-proficiency requirements.

The reported first-year admissions cycle included 9,576 applicants and 9,180 offers of admission, an acceptance rate of about 96%. That figure describes a past applicant pool, not an admission guarantee or the selectivity of every major. Applicants should verify the deadline and document requirements for their intended entry term and applicant category.

What are the application fees and waivers at The University of Montana?

The reported undergraduate application fee for the University of Montana is $30. An application fee is charged for processing an application; it is separate from tuition, housing charges and any later enrollment costs.

Applicants facing financial hardship should ask admissions about a fee waiver before submitting payment, because waiver procedures can depend on the application method and applicant category. The amount and waiver process can also differ for graduate, professional or international applications. Applicants should use the fee displayed for their specific application rather than assume the undergraduate amount applies to every program.

What types of ROTC programs are available at The University of Montana?

Army ROTC is available through a unit on the University of Montana campus. It allows eligible students to combine university study with military leadership training. Participation in introductory ROTC coursework and accepting an ROTC scholarship or commissioning commitment are not necessarily the same decision.

Students considering Army ROTC should review its academic, physical, citizenship and service requirements with the campus program before committing. Scholarship conditions and post-graduation obligations depend on the student's contract. Applicants interested in another military branch should verify a current cross-enrollment arrangement rather than assume its ROTC unit operates on the Missoula campus.

What are the requirements for transfer students at The University of Montana?

The University of Montana admits transfer applicants and generally considers credits earned at other accredited institutions. Transfer entry is reported for fall, spring and summer. Applicants should submit official transcripts from every college attended and check whether their intended major has additional admission requirements.

Admission as a transfer student and acceptance of individual courses toward a degree are separate decisions. A course may transfer as elective credit without meeting a major requirement. The university also reports that it considers certain examination-based credits, including CLEP and DSST, and applicable American Council on Education recommendations; each form of credit is subject to institutional evaluation.

Before enrolling, transfer students should request an official credit evaluation and compare the result with the degree requirements for their intended program. That is especially important for sequential majors, professional programs and students planning to finish with a limited number of semesters at UM. Applicants with little postsecondary coursework may also be asked for high school records.

What types of study abroad programs are available at The University of Montana?

The University of Montana offers international study opportunities through its education-abroad advising and partner arrangements. Depending on the program, students may study for a semester or year, join a shorter faculty-led experience, or participate through an approved external provider.

The practical question is how a particular program fits the student's degree. Participants should obtain academic approval for proposed courses before departure and ask how credits will appear on their UM record. Program fees, travel, housing and aid eligibility vary; institutional and federal aid may apply differently to an exchange, a faculty-led course and a third-party program. International experiences can also have earlier application deadlines than ordinary course registration.

The University of Montana Admissions Factors

Avg. SAT
1175
ACT range
23–28
136
Acceptance rate
96%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
96%
Montana
82%
US
78%

19% of admitted students enrolled (1,771 of 9,180)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 6-11
ACT in range 12-17
ACT in range 18-23
ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

The University of Montana Admissions

Applicants
Total: 9,576
Admission
Total: 9,180
Enrolled
Total: 1,771
Women
Men

How to Apply to The University of Montana

Regular application deadline

August 31

Application fee

$30

Early Decision

No

Early Action

No

The University of Montana First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 1,048
Out-of-state: 696
International: 11

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 1,771
Transfer: 655

The University of Montana Admission Requirements

Median composite SAT score

1175

Median composite ACT score

22

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

36%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

8%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

No

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

Yes

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Considered but not required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Required

Recommendations

Neither required nor recommended

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Considered but not required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

No

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit on campus

Study abroad

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

No

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

The University of Montana Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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