Colleges › Montana › The University of Montana-Western
The University of Montana-Western
The University of Montana-Western admits nearly everyone — 99.8% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether The University of Montana-Western is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
The University of Montana-Western anchors the college town of Dillon, MT, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Business Administration, Management and Operations, where graduates median $47,344 four years out. Faculty pay averages $94,548 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 1,198 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 78.6% of first-years come back for a second year.
The University of Montana-Western won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
The University of Montana-Western does not use test scores in admissions at all: the 99.8% who got into The University of Montana-Western did it on GPA, coursework and application alone. No score range exists to publish.
In the Fall 2023 cycle, The University of Montana-Western received 793 applications and admitted 789 (99.5%), with 300 enrolling.
How The University of Montana-Western compares
| The University of Montana-Western | Montana median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 99.8% | 82.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $6,670 | $8,506 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $43,229 | $49,036 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, The University of Montana-Western's median earnings are $43,229 — below the Montana benchmark of $49,036. Weigh that against the $6,670 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, The University of Montana-Western prices by residency: $6,670 in-state versus $20,130 out-of-state — a $13,460 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
With 1,198 undergraduates, The University of Montana-Western is small enough that class size and faculty access are structural, not marketing claims.
51.2% graduate within six years. Roughly 49% don't — ask a The University of Montana-Western tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at The University of Montana-Western
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $47,344 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $46,457 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $41,988 |
Median earnings for these 3 The University of Montana-Western programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $43,229 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 16 additional The University of Montana-Western programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for The University of Montana-Western?
The University of Montana-Western doesn't look at test scores; its 99.8% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is The University of Montana-Western's acceptance rate?
99.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 789 admitted from 793 applicants.
How much does The University of Montana-Western cost?
In-state tuition is $6,670; out-of-state students pay $20,130. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do The University of Montana-Western graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $43,229 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Montana
- The University of Montana — 95.9% admitted
- Montana Technological University — 91% admitted
- Rocky Mountain College — 69.6% admitted
- Montana State University — 82.1% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.