Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks The University of Montana #842 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $50,928, placing The University of Montana in the 11.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks The University of Montana #1105 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- The University of Montana's composite ranking reflects strong outcomes across access, mobility, and affordability — a combination that delivers meaningful financial returns for graduates. Median earnings four years after enrollment are $50,928, placing the institution in the 11.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks The University of Montana #842 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 43.0 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public research university (Carnegie R1) in Missoula, MT, University of Montana enrolls roughly 7,488 undergraduates. Retention is 74.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 48.0%, placing the institution among the stronger performers nationally for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where The University of Montana performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks The University of Montana #1105 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 25.3 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $50,928, placing The University of Montana in the 11.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $3,313 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing The University of Montana in the 44.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. The University of Montana sits in the 44.3 percentile for access and the 66.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls 28.0% Pell-eligible students and 30.2% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a regional public-university mission. For students seeking strong long-term earnings outcomes in a research-university setting anchored in the Northern Rockies, University of Montana delivers measurable financial returns that exceed those of many peer institutions.
Published cost of attendance is $23,570. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $13,960, middle-income families pay around $17,180, higher-income families pay approximately $20,930. Azimuth ranks The University of Montana #476 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 66.6 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,400; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,000. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $50,928, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $253 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
The University of Montana is a fit for students who want a public four-year option in MT and are weighing outcomes against cost. Azimuth ranks The University of Montana #843 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $50,928, placing The University of Montana in the 11.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,313 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 44.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $23,570. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $13,960, middle-income families pay around $17,180, higher-income families pay approximately $20,930. Students should weigh those current cost and earnings figures against the school's program mix before treating the fit as primarily an earnings, affordability, or access story.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the The University Of Montana hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Information Resources Management
67 graduates
Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping
23 graduates
Forest Management/Forest Resources Management
15 graduates
Business Administration and Management, General
46 graduates
Communication and Media Studies, Other
55 graduates
The University of Montana's program mix centers on Business and applied professional fields. Psychology, General is the largest program with 97 graduates annually, followed by Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Management Information Systems and Services, Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management, and Biology, General.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 1,199 students, the institution delivers consistent outcomes in workforce-aligned fields. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in Management Information Systems and Services, where graduates earn median earnings of $73,149 four years after enrollment with 67 graduates annually.
Business Administration follows with median earnings of $57,892 and 46 graduates, and Communication and Media Studies delivers median earnings of $54,300. These programs reflect The University of Montana's positioning as a regional comprehensive university where practical, career-focused fields drive post-graduation outcomes.
The institution's program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways in fields like Sociology and Psychology, General, where graduates enter the labor market immediately and earnings reflect regional and national labor-market conditions. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with workforce demand in Montana and neighboring regions.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suny At Fredonia Similar quality tier (#25904 ranked) | NY | 78% | $54,247 | #25904 | Compare |
University Of North Alabama Similar quality tier (#24826 ranked) | AL | 87% | $45,415 | #24826 | Compare |
Lander University Similar quality tier (#25979 ranked) | SC | 81% | $42,396 | #25979 | Compare |
Francis Marion University Similar quality tier (#24289 ranked) | SC | 86% | $43,888 | #24289 | Compare |
Keene State College Similar quality tier (#27595 ranked) | NH | 90% | $54,368 | #27595 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Published cost of attendance is $23,570. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $13,960, middle-income families pay around $17,180, higher-income families pay approximately $20,930.
Azimuth ranks The University of Montana #476 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 66.6 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,400; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,000.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $50,928, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $253 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Graduates of the University of Montana earn median 4-year earnings of $50,928, placing The University of Montana in the 11.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,313 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing The University of Montana in the 44.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks The University of Montana #1105 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The University of Montana's program portfolio centers on Business, which anchors the institution's earnings profile.
Psychology, General is the largest program with 97 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $46,192, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Natural Resources Conservation and Research program graduates 71 students earning $43,813, while Management Information Systems and Services and Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management round out the top programs with 67 and 64 graduates respectively.
These fields reflect The University of Montana's strength in applied, professional, and business-oriented disciplines that connect directly to regional labor-market demand in Montana.
