ℹ️ A note about this profile

The University of Montana-Western doesn't publish standardized-test bands or admit-rate data to IPEDS. That usually means the institution is open-admission (no selectivity gate), graduate-focused, or small enough that the federal survey suppresses the numbers. The cost, program, and outcomes data below is still complete — just no admissions-difficulty signal to surface. If you're searching for a more selective Ivy-tier "The", try the search at the top of the page.

🎯 Parent/student verdict

Worth a look

Affordable on average — net price runs around $16,558/yr. Major value play for in-state residents.

✅ Best for

  • In-state residents (tuition ~$6,670 — major value play)
  • Students focused on Education (the school's signature program)
  • Families wanting a small liberal-arts experience

🎯 The reality

  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.0× the in-state rate

Verdict is composed from this college's structured data (admit rate, SAT bands, net price by income, Carnegie classification, scholarship grids) using transparent rule thresholds — not a chat-bot's opinion.

🏛️ Institutional snapshot

What kind of college is this?

Carnegie classification
Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
Total enrollment
1,198
1,000 - 4,999
In-state tuition
$6,670
sticker, before aid
Out-of-state tuition
$20,130
+$13,460 vs in-state

Source: federal IPEDS Admissions 2023 for scores + admit rate; federal College Scorecard for earnings + outcomes. SAT/ACT bands are the 25th–75th percentile of enrolled submitters.

💰 What families actually pay

Net price by family income

Net price = sticker price minus grant aid. This is what families actually pay out-of-pocket after scholarships and need-based aid — the most honest affordability signal there is. At The University of Montana-Western, the average net price is $16,558/yr across all families.

Family income $0-30k
$14,822/yr
Family income $30-48k
$14,058/yr
Family income $48-75k
$15,951/yr
Family income $75-110k
$17,785/yr
Family income $110k+
$20,125/yr

🔎 Earning over $110K? The federal brackets above lump every family from $110K to $1M+ into one row.

Need-based aid usually phases out somewhere between $200K and $300K at private colleges — but the exact threshold varies a lot. For a precise estimate based on your family's actual income, assets, and your student's academic profile, use The University of Montana-Western's official Net Price Calculator:

Get your family's estimate from The University of Montana-Western →

Opens on The University of Montana-Western's site. Takes about 10–15 minutes; have your most recent tax return handy.

Source: College Scorecard (NPT41-NPT45). Net price = total cost of attendance minus federal, state, institutional, and other grants. Some brackets may be suppressed for student-privacy reasons (small cohorts). Title IV first-time, full-time undergraduates only. The $110K+ ceiling is a federal data limitation — Department of Education hasn't refreshed these brackets since the early 2010s.

📚 What students study here

Most popular majors at The University of Montana-Western

Top 5 fields of study by bachelor's degrees awarded (most recent IPEDS Completions). Use this to see what The University of Montana-Western actually graduates — not just what it markets.

1. Education
81 degrees · 53.6%
Typical career outcomes
Elementary School Teacher $64k Secondary School Teacher $65k School Principal $101k Special Education Teacher $66k
Teaching is the largest path. Salary depends heavily on district + state.
2. Business, Management, & Marketing
26 degrees · 17.2%
Typical career outcomes
Financial Analyst $100k Management Analyst (Consultant) $99k Marketing Manager $158k Accountant / Auditor $80k
Broad set of corporate roles. Finance + consulting pay top, accounting + HR pay middle, sales spread is wide.
3. Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness
19 degrees · 12.6%
Typical career outcomes
Athletic Trainer $58k Fitness Trainer / Coach $46k Recreation Director $65k
Coaching, athletic training, public-sector recreation, fitness industry.
4. Agriculture
13 degrees · 8.6%
Typical career outcomes
Agricultural & Food Scientist $81k Farm / Ranch Manager $84k Agricultural Engineer $88k
Farm management, food science, ag-business operations. Wide range based on path.
5. Biological & Biomedical Sciences
12 degrees · 7.9%
Typical career outcomes
Biological Scientist $87k Medical & Clinical Lab Tech $61k Pharmaceutical Rep $82k Physician (post-MD) $239k
Many bio majors → med school / grad school. Direct-employment bio roles are lower-paid than that pipeline.

Source: IPEDS Completions (C2023_a), bachelor's-level first majors aggregated to 2-digit CIP family. Share is of these top 5 only — not all majors.

⚖️ Compare side-by-side

The University of Montana-Western vs. another college

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