C+
Above Average
Score: 55/100
Overall (traditional)
D
Outcome Rating
36/100 · earnings-weighted

The University of Montana-Western

4-Year Public
📍 Dillon, Montana 59725
The University of Montana-Western campus, Dillon, MT
The University of Montana-Western campus, Dillon, MT. Photo: RB2013, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
B
68/100
Affordability
C+
57/100
Resources
C
46/100
Experience
A
85/100
Prestige
F
22/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

1,458
Total Enrollment
49%
Graduation Rate
79%
Retention Rate
15.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
99%
Acceptance Rate
$15,726
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near The University of Montana-Western ▼

5% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$401,017
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,215
1-Year Change
+6.0%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at The University of Montana-Western, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$43,229
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$37,252
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$21,000
Median debt at graduation
51.3%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
35.2%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 49% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 21st percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (MT wage index 0.84). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at The University of Montana-Western

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Business Administration, Management and Operations$35,880$47,344-31%#1129 of 1176#1081$20,918
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$38,151$46,457-10%#288 of 345#230$21,500
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$36,742$41,988-11%#602 of 680#539$20,829

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The The University of Montana-Western Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $401,017
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,215/mo — vs ~$390/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 59725 (2.4% cap, Dillon)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $4,845 $17,375
Room $3,506
Board $5,598
Total Cost (On-Campus) $21,712 $34,320

Financial Aid

86%
Receive Any Aid
31%
Receive Pell Grants
41%
Take Out Loans
$15,726
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$15,093
$30,001 - $48,000$15,286
$48,001 - $75,000$16,516
$75,001 - $110,000$18,511
$110,001+$18,898

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Early Childhood Education and Teaching 66 grads/yr Education, General 55 grads/yr Elementary Education and Teaching 53 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 43 grads/yr General Studies 24 grads/yr Equestrian/Equine Studies 23 grads/yr Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 21 grads/yr Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 19 grads/yr Military Applied Sciences, Other 19 grads/yr Exercise Science and Kinesiology 14 grads/yr Special Education and Teaching, General 11 grads/yr Ecology 10 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 9 grads/yr Secondary Education and Teaching 9 grads/yr Psychology, General 8 grads/yr Environmental Science 7 grads/yr Behavioral Sciences 6 grads/yr Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Other 6 grads/yr English Language and Literature, General 6 grads/yr Business and Innovation/Entrepreneurship Teacher Education 6 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from The University of Montana-Western's top programs commonly pursue.

Education teachers, postsecondary
$72k/yr 74,900 jobs
Elementary school teachers, except special education
$62k/yr 1,422,700 jobs
Kindergarten teachers, except special education
$61k/yr 117,200 jobs
Preschool teachers, except special education
$37k/yr 555,100 jobs
Chief executives
$206k/yr 309,400 jobs
Compensation and benefits managers
$140k/yr 20,900 jobs
Human resources managers
$140k/yr 221,900 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr 619,500 jobs

Student Demographics

1,458
Total Students
66%
Women
70%
Traditional Age (18-24)
5%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 74%
Hispanic 4%
Black 1%
Asian 1%
Two or More 5%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 90%
Off-Campus (Renters) 5%
With Family 5%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~70 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 73%
Hybrid (Some Online) 8%
Fully Online 19%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 70%
25-64 (Adult) 22%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at The University of Montana-Western?
The University of Montana-Western has an acceptance rate of 99%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend The University of Montana-Western?
Tuition at The University of Montana-Western is $4,845 for in-state students and $17,375 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $15,726.
What is the graduation rate at The University of Montana-Western?
The graduation rate at The University of Montana-Western is 49%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is The University of Montana-Western a good school?
The University of Montana-Western has a Repit College Score of 55/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend The University of Montana-Western?
The University of Montana-Western has a total enrollment of 1,458 students.
Is there rental demand near The University of Montana-Western?
Yes! Approximately 5% of students at The University of Montana-Western live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 70 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for The University of Montana-Western — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to The University of Montana-Western

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
Montana State University Billings
Billings, MT · 4,092 students
C+
Montana State University-Northern
Havre, MT · 1,021 students
C+
Montana Technological University
Butte, MT · 1,622 students
C+
Salish Kootenai College
Pablo, MT · 648 students
C+
Carroll College
Helena, MT · 1,103 students
C+
Aaniiih Nakoda College
Harlem, MT · 133 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology