University in United States
Missoula, MT, United States
University profile
The University of Montana (UM) is the state's flagship public research university, located in Missoula in western Montana, a city of about 80,000 residents beneath Mount Sentinel. It was chartered in February 1893 and serves more than 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students, with a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio and about 500 degree pathways at associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral level, plus certificates and joint-degree programs.
The main campus in Missoula is joined by Missoula College, UM's two-year institution, and by Bitterroot College in Hamilton, which offer in-person and online programs. UM has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities since 1932 and holds the R1 research designation, earned in 2022. Dr. Jeremiah Shinn became the 20th president on July 1, 2026.
Colleges and schools.
Of fall 2025 students, 68.9% are Montana residents and 3,621 are first in their families to attend college; the first-to-second-year retention rate is 77.2%. Students volunteer more than 100,000 hours in the community each year. Mansfield Library and the Law Library serve the campus.
Campus housing includes residence halls for single students during fall and spring semesters, Lewis and Clark Village on South Campus, and University Villages, which are unfurnished apartments from studios to four bedrooms. International students apply for full admission to two- and four-year programs for fall or spring terms, and the English Language Institute offers English-language study.
For 2026-27 tuition and fees are $9,694 (in-state), $13,718 (Western Undergraduate Exchange) and $34,838 (out-of-state); housing and food are $14,566, giving totals of $24,260, $28,284 and $49,404. The I-20 minimum funding requirement for 2026-27 is $55,988 for the Mountain Campus and $40,382 for Missoula College.
International first-year and transfer students offered Full Admission to the Mountain Campus are automatically considered for UMAAS based on the converted GPA on their ICER. Post-baccalaureates, Missoula College students, online-only students and conditionally or Pathway-admitted students are not eligible.
The UM Need Grant is limited to Montana residents with FAFSA-demonstrated need. Federal aid such as the Pell Grant ($7,395 maximum for 2025-26) requires FAFSA. Graduate students may receive teaching and research assistantships and graduate scholarships and fellowships.
UM Academic Achievement Scholarship (UMAAS) →
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Tuition Discount →
Montana Admissions Guarantee Scholarship →
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View scholarships for University of Montana →Applicants qualify for the four-year programs by meeting one of the following: ACT composite of 22, SAT combined score of 1120, cumulative GPA of 2.5, or class rank in the upper half of the graduating class. ACT/SAT scores are not required, though they are encouraged for course placement, and selective programs such as the Davidson Honors College may require them. No essay or letters of recommendation are required.
College preparatory units required by the Montana University System: four years of English; three of mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II or equivalent); three of social studies; two of laboratory science; and two from foreign language, computer science, visual and performing arts or vocational education. Math and writing proficiency are shown through ACT/SAT sub-scores, AP, IB or CLEP results, or high school GPA alternatives; otherwise placement testing is required. The GED and HiSET are accepted.
Montana residents apply through Apply Montana (free for residents); out-of-state students apply through the Common App. Early Action deadline is Dec. 1 (for fall 2027, Dec. 1, 2026); Regular Decision runs to May 1, 2027, with rolling admission as space allows. Spring 2027 applications are due Dec. 1, 2026. Decisions are typically released within 10 business days of a complete application. Self-reported academics are verified with official transcripts after admission.
International undergraduates apply through the Common App by Nov. 15 (spring) or June 15 (fall 2027). Full Admission requires the application and $30 fee, an official English proficiency score report or exemption, and an official International Credential Evaluation Report (ICER) for secondary school; transfer applicants with 12 or more college credits provide an ICER for each institution attended. Minimum scores for full admission: TOEFL iBT 70, TOEFL PBT 525, IELTS Academic 6.0, Duolingo English Test 105, Cambridge English 180, iTEP 3.8, PTE Academic 48 (pathway program minimums are lower: TOEFL iBT 52, IELTS 5.0, DET 85, PTE 41). UM's TOEFL code is 4489. The I-20 requires an application form, a Certificate of Financial Responsibility, bank documentation dated within six months and a passport copy, due June 15 (fall) or Nov. 15 (spring). Online-only students are not eligible for F-1 visas.
Graduate applicants hold a U.S. bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited institution and apply through ApplyWeb; materials such as letters of recommendation and test scores are program-specific. The application fee is $70, and $25 for each additional application within 12 months. International graduate English minimums: TOEFL iBT 80 for exams before Jan. 21, 2026 (new scale 4.5 after), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 125, MET 58, TOEFL Essentials 9.
Housing options: residence halls, Lewis and Clark Village and University Villages, applied for through a single housing application.
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