The University of Montana-Western

w.umwestern.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$4,845

4.01% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$15,726

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

99.5%

793 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

1,458

72.7% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

49.4%

83 Graduates

About

The University of Montana-Western is a higher education institution located in Beaverhead County, MT. In 2023, the most popular Associates Degree concentrations at The University of Montana-Western were General Studies (58 degrees awarded), General Education (35 degrees), and Early Childhood Education & Teaching (17 degrees).

In 2023, 361 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at The University of Montana-Western. 69.5% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 30.5% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (285 degrees), 14.3 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, american indian or alaska native (20 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at The University of Montana-Western is $4,845, which is $−24,435 less than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($29,280).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at The University of Montana-Western was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 342 total borrowers.

Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields Baccalaureate Colleges

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at The University of Montana-Western is $4,845, which is $24,435 less than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($29,280).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $15,726.

In 2023, 87% of undergraduate students attending The University of Montana-Western received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 32% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$4,845

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at The University of Montana-Western was $4,845. The cost of tuition at The University of Montana-Western is $−24,435 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($29,280).

This chart compares the tuition costs of The University of Montana-Western (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$15,726

2023 Value

35.8%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 The University of Montana-Western had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $15,726. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of The University of Montana-Western grew by 35.8%.

This chart compares the average net price of The University of Montana-Western (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$9,472

Room and Board

$1,300

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at The University of Montana-Western was of $9,472 in 2023. The cost of room and board decreased by 2.78% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,300. The cost of books and supplies increased by 40.7% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at The University of Montana-Western (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

87%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

32%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

87% of undergraduate students at The University of Montana-Western received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a decline of 11.2% with respect to 2022, when 98% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at The University of Montana-Western (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at The University of Montana-Western was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 342 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

The University of Montana-Western received 793 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 46.3% annual growth. Out of those 793 applicants, 789 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 99.5% acceptance rate.

There were 1,458 students enrolled at The University of Montana-Western in 2023. 15% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The University of Montana-Western has an overall enrollment yield of 38%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

99.5%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

789

Accepted Out of 793

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of The University of Montana-Western was 99.5% (789 admissions from 793 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 36.3%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants declined by 46.3%, while admissions grew by 47.2%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of The University of Montana-Western (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

15%

Submission Percentage (2020)

Scores Submitted (2020)

15% of enrolled first-time students at The University of Montana-Western in 2020 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

The University of Montana-Western had a total enrollment of 1,458 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at The University of Montana-Western is 1,060 students and the part-time enrollment is 398. This means that 72.7% of students enrolled at The University of Montana-Western are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at The University of Montana-Western, both undergraduate and graduate, is 73.9% White, 5.21% American Indian or Alaska Native, 4.6% Two or More Races, 4.18% Hispanic or Latino, 0.823% Black or African American, 0.617% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.549% Asian.

Students enrolled at The University of Montana-Western in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (52.6%), followed by White Male (29.3%) and American Indian or Alaska Native Female (3.19%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Male (66.7%), followed by American Indian or Alaska Native Male (16.7%) and White Female (16.7%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

72.7%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at The University of Montana-Western in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 1,458 students. The full-time enrollment at The University of Montana-Western is 1,060 and the part-time enrollment is 398. This means that 72.7% of students enrolled at The University of Montana-Western are enrolled full-time compared with 78.8% at similar Baccalaureate Colleges.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at The University of Montana-Western (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

79%

2023 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at The University of Montana-Western was 79%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Baccalaureate Colleges (74%), The University of Montana-Western had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at The University of Montana-Western (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
1,078 enrolled students
American Indian or Alaska Native
76 enrolled students
Two or More Races
67 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at The University of Montana-Western is 73.9% White, 5.21% American Indian or Alaska Native, 4.6% Two or More Races, 4.18% Hispanic or Latino, 0.823% Black or African American, 0.617% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.549% Asian. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Baccalaureate Colleges is 53.2% White, 14.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 12.9% Black or African American.

Graduates

In 2023, 141 more women than men received degrees from The University of Montana-Western. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at The University of Montana-Western is white (285 degrees awarded). There were 14.3 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, american indian or alaska native (20 degrees).

The most common Associates Degree concentration at The University of Montana-Western is General Studies (58 degrees awarded), followed by General Education (35 degrees) and Early Childhood Education & Teaching (17 degrees).

In 2023, the most specialized majors across all degree types at The University of Montana-Western, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Applied Sciences (11 degrees awarded), Education (159 degrees), and Agriculture (23 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at The University of Montana-Western are Elementary & middle school teachers (1,533,052 people), Secondary school teachers (503,876 people), Education administrators (265,318 people), Special education teachers (207,125 people), and Preschool & kindergarten teachers (189,236 people).

The most specialized majors at The University of Montana-Western in 2023 are Applied Sciences (11 degrees awarded), Education (159 degrees), Agriculture (23 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (19 degrees), and Natural Resources & Conservation (8 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at The University of Montana-Western are Surgeons, Diagnostic medical sonographers, Podiatrists, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, and Media and communication workers, all other

The most specialized majors at The University of Montana-Western are Applied Sciences (11 degrees awarded), Education (159 degrees), Agriculture (23 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (19 degrees), and Natural Resources & Conservation (8 degrees) (as of 2023).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at The University of Montana-Western are Elementary & secondary schools (5,586,329 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (3,275,256 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (2,452,532 people), Computer Systems Design (2,343,824 people), and Construction (1,303,670 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by The University of Montana-Western.

Most Common (2023)

Elementary Education & Teaching
34 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
26 degrees awarded
Early Childhood Education & Teaching
23 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at The University of Montana-Western was Elementary Education & Teaching with 34 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at The University of Montana-Western according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

110

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

251

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 110 degrees were awarded to men at The University of Montana-Western, which is 0.438 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (251).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at The University of Montana-Western by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 21 degrees were awarded to men at The University of Montana-Western in General Studies, which is 0.568 times less than the 37 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 50 degrees were awarded to women at The University of Montana-Western in Early Childhood Education & Teaching. There were no male recipients with the same degree.

Time to Complete

24%

100% Completion Time

39%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 24% of students graduating from The University of Montana-Western completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 39% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 41% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Baccalaureate Colleges Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Hispanic or Latino Female

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at The University of Montana-Western is Female and Hispanic or Latino (100% graduation rate). Across all Baccalaureate Colleges, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
285 degrees awarded
American Indian or Alaska Native
20 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
14 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at The University of Montana-Western is white (285 degrees awarded). There were 14.3 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, american indian or alaska native (20 degrees).

4.71% of degree recipients (17 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Female
208 degrees awarded
White Male
77 degrees awarded
American Indian or Alaska Native Female
17 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at The University of Montana-Western is white female (208 degrees awarded). There were 2.7 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (77 degrees).

Operations

The University of Montana-Western has an endowment valued at nearly $7.62M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 438k (5.75%) compared to the 4.79% average return (2.46M on 51.4M) across all Baccalaureate Colleges.

In 2023, The University of Montana-Western had a total salary expenditure of 31M. The University of Montana-Western employs 26 Professors, 17 Associate professors and 13 Assistant professors. Most academics at The University of Montana-Western are Male Professor (16), Female Associate professor (11), and Female Instructor (10).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at The University of Montana-Western are: Management, with 30 employees, Service, with 27 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 18 employees.

Endowment

$7.62M

2023 Endowment

28.2%

decline from 2022

The University of Montana-Western has an endowment valued at about $7.62M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of The University of Montana-Western declined 28.2% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $43.8M lower than than the median endowment of Baccalaureate Colleges according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at The University of Montana-Western (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$12.3M

2023 Salaries

15.4%

growth from 2022

In 2023, The University of Montana-Western paid a median of $12.3M in salaries, which represents 39.7% of their overall expenditure ($31M) and a 15.4% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 0.443% decline between 2021 and 2022, and a 0.208% decline between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Baccalaureate Colleges is 15.7M (37.9% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$4.28M

Instructional Salaries

Number of Employees

In 2023, The University of Montana-Western paid a total of $4.28M to 68 employees working as instructors, which represents 34.7% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $552k (3.27%) for similar Baccalaureate Colleges.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

26 Employees

Management

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

30 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at The University of Montana-Western were Professor with 26 employees, Associate professor with 17 employees, and Assistant professor with 13 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at The University of Montana-Western were Management with 30 employees, Service with 27 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 18 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Male Professor
Female Associate professor
Female Instructor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at The University of Montana-Western was Male Professor with 16 employees, Female Associate professor with 11 employees, and Female Instructor with 10 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at The University of Montana-Western.

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