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Is The University of Montana-Western worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for The University of Montana-Western, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
The University of Montana-Western sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $43,229 helps, but median debt of $21,000 plus yearly net price of $16,558 creates a tighter path. For context, The University of Montana-Western's net price runs about 20% above the typical 4-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$15,726
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $2,572 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $10,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$16,558
Median earnings 10 years out
$43,229
Median debt at graduation
$21,000
Graduation rate
50%
At The University of Montana-Western, a typical graduate carries about $21,000 in student debt and earns roughly $43,229 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $239 per month, or 7% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
The University of Montana-Western is a public four year school in Dillon, MT. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
Montana State University Billings
Billings, MT
Worth-It Score: 50/100
Median net price: $16,524
Public 4-year
Montana Technological
Butte, MT
Worth-It Score: 65/100
Median net price: $16,481
Public 4-year
The University of Montana
Missoula, MT
Worth-It Score: 53/100
Median net price: $16,784
Public 4-year
Montana State
Bozeman, MT
Worth-It Score: 54/100
Median net price: $22,499
Public 4-year
Montana State University-Northern
Havre, MT
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $12,664
Common questions about The University of Montana-Western
The median net price at The University of Montana-Western is $16,558 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Montana? See the most affordable public universities in Montana →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →