MT-Resident Scholarships for Entering Students

The University of Montana Academic Achievement Scholarship (UMAAS) Program draws together many endowed scholarships and donations into a single scholarship pool known as the University of Montana Academic Achievement Scholarship (formerly known as the MAA).

Montana residents are automatically considered for this merit scholarship when they apply. 

To maximize grant and scholarship opportunities, new students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA, and apply for departmental and campus-wide scholarships through the UM Scholarship Portal.

Some students will be asked to write thank you notes to the donors who sponsor their specific scholarship. Students will be notified beginning in June if they need to do so.

Students who do not qualify for a scholarship upon entry to UM, but choose to attend anyway, cannot qualify for one of these scholarships at a later date. However, they are encouraged to apply for continuing student scholarships.

UMAAS Details

For Autumn 2022, eligibility for the UMAAS is based upon a student’s unweighted cumulative GPA. Awarding happens based on the scores and grades available when the student is admitted. If a student later improves their GPA, they will need to petition for reconsideration using the Scholarship Appeal Form.

Montana Resident UMAA Scholarship Awarding Parameters
2022-2023 Montana Residents UMAA Scholarship
HS GPA Amount
3.95+ $4,000
3.75 to 3.949 $3,000
3.35 to 3.749 $2,000
3.00 to 3.349 $1,000
2.99 & below $0

For Autumn 2022, eligibility for the UMAAS is based upon a student’s unweighted cumulative GPA. Awarding happens based on the scores and grades available when the student is admitted. If a student later improves their GPA, they will need to petition for reconsideration using the Scholarship Appeal Form.

Montana Residents Transfer UMAA Scholarship Awarding Parameters
2022-2023 Montana Residents Transfer UMAA Scholarship
Transfer GPA Amount
3.5 & above $2,500
3.25 to 3.499 $2,000
3.00 to 3.249 $1,500
2.99 & below $0

For the 22-23 academic year, if an incoming freshmen qualifies for the UMAAS scholarship it is renewable for four years.

For transfer students, the number of years for which the scholarship is renewable is based on the number of transfer credits accepted by UM.

  • 0-29 credits, 4 years
  • 30-59 credits, 3 years
  • 60+ credits, 2 years

To complete a degree in the required time-frame, most students must earn an average of 15 credits per semester.

Many UMAAS awards are funded by donations made to the UM Foundation. The process of matching students to scholarships is done in late spring/early summer.

All students are encouraged to complete the general scholarship application available in the UM Scholarship Portal annually. Doing so allows students to be considered for departmental scholarships and increased UMAAS funding.

A student must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 at the end of the spring semester and have completed 12 or more credits per semester for the scholarship to be renewed (if renewable).

Students who are not continuously enrolled (except summers), transfer to Missoula College (including Bitterroot College), or become distance only students, forfeit the scholarship. Non-resident students are not eligible for the UMAAS.

UMAAS recipients cease to be eligible for the UMAAS upon completion of a bachelor's degree.

The scholarship will not be disbursed in any given semester until the student is enrolled full-time (12 or more credits). Courses taken through the School of Extended and Lifelong Learning (SELL) are not counted in meeting the requirement to be full-time. The scholarship is not available for use in the summer term.

Students who do not meet scholarship conditions may appeal for reinstatement using the Scholarship Appeal Form.

Post-baccalaureate students (i.e. students who have previously earned a bachelor's degree) and graduate students are not eligible to receive the UMAAS.