University of Montana

Missoula, MT Public Website

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The University of Montana is a public university in Missoula and an accredited, degree-granting unit of the Montana University System. Chartered in 1893, it offers undergraduate and graduate education through academic units spanning arts and media, business, education, forestry and conservation, health, humanities and social sciences, science, law, honors education, and Missoula College. The university’s catalog documents bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, alongside associate degrees and certificates. Its setting may particularly suit students who want a university campus in a small western city with ready access to outdoor recreation. Prospective students should distinguish the main university’s four-year admissions pathway from Missoula College programs and compare Montana-resident, nonresident, and Western Undergraduate Exchange costs carefully.

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Key Highlights

Public unit of the Montana University System with separate institutional accreditation
Chartered in February 1893
Institutional accreditation reaffirmed in July 2024
Academic structure includes major colleges, professional schools, the Graduate School, and Missoula College

Student Life & Environment

Campus life combines residential options, student organizations, recreation, athletics, performances, health resources, and career-oriented activities. UM’s student-life page identifies nine residence halls, apartment-style accommodation in Lewis and Clark Village, and family housing in University Villages. Housing type, availability, contract terms, and meal-plan pricing should be checked directly for the intended academic year. Housing is not entirely optional for new students. The university states that new students with fewer than 30 college credits completed after high school, or without two semesters in a residence-hall setting, are generally required to live in UM residence halls unless granted a waiver. Incoming freshmen under age 20 receive a housing hold until they submit a housing application or obtain an approved release. Advanced Placement and dual-enrollment credits earned during high school do not count toward the stated 30-credit exemption. Griz Hub provides a central place to find campus events, resources, clubs, and organizations. Recreation and intercollegiate or club sports offer additional ways to participate. Experiential Learning and Career Success connects students with career coaching, jobs, internships, volunteer service, and research opportunities. Students comparing UM with an urban university should weigh this campus-centered community and outdoor setting against Missoula’s smaller scale and the practical demands of Montana weather and regional travel.

Location & Surroundings

UM’s main campus is in Missoula in western Montana. The university describes Missoula as a small city of about 80,000 residents. This gives students access to city services, arts, dining, and employers without the scale of a major metropolitan area. The campus setting is closely associated with the surrounding mountains and opportunities for hiking, skiing, cycling, river activities, and field-based study. Location is especially relevant for students considering forestry, conservation, wildlife, environmental science, recreation, or other programs that may use Montana landscapes as learning environments. It can also shape everyday logistics. Applicants traveling from outside the region should investigate flight and ground-transport options, seasonal weather, and the cost of returning home before committing. UM operates campus shuttle services, including Park and Ride links serving designated lots and Missoula College. Students should nevertheless compare residence-hall proximity, local transit, cycling, walking, and car-related expenses. Program location also matters: applicants should confirm whether their courses are based on the Mountain Campus, at Missoula College, online, or at another affiliated site.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026-2027, UM estimates a full-time undergraduate cost of attendance of $34,086 for Montana residents living in university housing with a dining plan. This includes $9,750 in tuition and fees, $14,120 for housing and meals, and allowances for books, transportation, personal expenses, loan fees, and health insurance. The corresponding nonresident estimate is $60,454, including $34,894 in tuition and fees and the same $14,120 housing-and-meals allowance. These are planning budgets, not invoices, and assume at least 12 credits in each semester. The university also publishes a $39,334 Western Undergraduate Exchange estimate. Eligibility should not be assumed solely from residence in a participating state; students must confirm award rules and availability. Course, program, online, and professional-school charges may add to the published totals. Mandatory health-insurance coverage applies with a right to waive it under university rules. Graduate and professional students need separate cost schedules. Students should submit the required financial-aid materials and investigate institutional scholarships early, since admissions processing and scholarship consideration favor earlier completion. UM’s Experiential Learning and Career Success office provides career coaching, employer connections, career fairs, Handshake access, student jobs, internships, volunteer projects, and research opportunities. Its services support preparation and access to opportunities but do not guarantee employment or a particular salary. Applicants should request program-level outcomes, licensure results where relevant, and recent internship or placement information from the department they are considering.