UM Western vs MSU-Northern

Nestled in the heart of Montana's breathtaking landscapes, The University of Montana-Western and Montana State University-Northern stand as two distinct beacons of higher education. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence and student success, they offer unique experiences that cater to diverse aspirations. With contrasting acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates, these universities present prospective students with a choice that aligns with their individual goals and preferences. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into the specifics and discover which institution best resonates with your academic pursuits and personal aspirations.
Montana State University-Northern logo

Montana State University-Northern

The University of Montana-Western logo

The University of Montana-Western

Overview

Location Havre, Montana Dillon, Montana
Campus setting Town: Remote Town: Remote
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 70.0% 73.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 100.0% 33.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
$30
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 604 1,278
Total number of admissions given out 604 426
Admitted students who chose to enroll 189 229
Yield rate 31.3% 53.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A
High school GPA N/A Required
Recommendation letters N/A Not required
High school transcript N/A Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $18,255

Out of state: $30,965
In state: $21,456

Out of state: $32,920
Average net price $10,954 $12,377
Tuition
In state: $4,496

Out of state: $17,096
In state: $4,523

Out of state: $15,913
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $2,470

Meal plan: $4,050
Room/dormitory: $3,244

Meal plan: $4,800
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

92.0%
Average amount $6,857
89.0%
Average amount $8,492
Students receiving federal student loan 45.0%
Average amount $4,649
58.0%
Average amount $7,476
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $11,383
5.0%
Average amount $7,955

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,008
Men 57.8% Women 42.2%
1,399
Men 33.0% Women 67.0%
Graduate students 42
Men 23.8% Women 76.2%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A 31.4%
International students N/A 0.1%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 300 420
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Montana Washington Idaho Nevada California

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Automotive Technology
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Agriculture
  • Liberal Arts
  • Education
  • Liberal Arts
  • Business
  • Agriculture
  • Military Technologies
Students to faculty ratio 14:1 14:1
Institutional accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 31.3% 41.8%
Dropout rate 67.3% 26.3%
Transferred out N/A 28.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,917
  • Year 2: $66,461
  • Year 3: $64,057
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,578
  • Year 2: $55,286
  • Year 3: $61,754
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $57,860
  • Year 3: $61,499
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $51,607
  • Year 3: $52,750
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,870
  • Year 2: $39,369
  • Year 3: $36,394
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,097
  • Year 2: $32,925
  • Year 3: $33,261
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,282
  • Year 2: $36,134
  • Year 3: N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $35,060
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,379
  • Year 2: $39,009
  • Year 3: $40,922
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,928
  • Year 2: $36,437
  • Year 3: $39,876
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $36,221
  • Year 3: $37,419
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,421
  • Year 2: $32,925
  • Year 3: $32,976
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $30,771
  • Year 3: N/A

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