Scholarships for New Freshman

Undergraduates pursuing their first bachelor's degree are automatically considered for either the Western Undergraduate Exchange program (WUE) or the University of Montana Academic Achievement Scholarship (UMAAS). Only students who are residents of western states are considered for the WUE.

Students are automatically considered for this merit scholarship when they apply for admission to a four year degree. Awarding begins Dec. 1 for the following autumn semester, and students must apply for admission by July 1st for consideration (or December 1st for spring semester awards).

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

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.

2024-2025 UMAAS and WUE Awarding Criteria

New Freshman UMAAS Awarding Criteria

HS GPA

Montana Residents
UMAA Scholarship
Non-WUE Residents
UMAA Scholarship
3.95+ $4,000 $18,000
3.75 to 3.949 $3,000 $16,000
3.35 to 3.749 $2,000 $14,000
3.00 to 3.349 $1,000 $12,500
2.99 & below $0 $5,000

New Freshman WUE Awarding Criteria

HS GPA

Western Undergraduate Exchange
State Residents
3.90+ WUE
3.75 to 3.899 $16,000 UMAA
3.35 to 3.749 $14,000 UMAA
3.00 to 3.349 $12,500 UMAA
2.99 & below $5,000 UMAA

*The WUE tuition discount is equivalent to a $18,888/year (or $75,000 over four years) scholarship.

WUE

Students awarded the WUE receive a discounted tuition rate equivalent to 150% of resident tuition.

Beginning in Autumn 2023, eligibility for the WUE is based upon a student’s unweighted cumulative GPA.

Beginning in the 2023-2024 Academic Year the minimum GPA to qualify for WUE for as a new student is 3.90 High school GPA. For transfer students it is 3.5 transfer GPA. 

Awarding happens based on the 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.

Students from western states, who do not qualify for the WUE, will be considered for the UMAAS award. Students have until the 15th class day of their first semester to submit petition.

The WUE will be reflected on the initial award offer letter as a scholarship. It won’t be listed in the scholarship section of Cyberbear, but don’t worry. Your tuition will reflect it.

WUE Details

Applicants must be first time incoming students to The University of Montana (freshman or transfer) from:

  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • North Dakota
  • Oregon
  • South Dakota
  • Utah
  • Washington
  • Wyoming
  • The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)

Beginning in the 2023-2024 Academic Year the minimum GPA to qualify for WUE for as a new student is 3.90 High school GPA.

Students from western states, who do not qualify for the WUE, will be considered for the UMAAS award.

Please visit with your Admissions Counselor to determine the amount of your award.

If an incoming freshmen qualifies for the WUE program it is renewable for four years. Please see the criteria listed below.

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

The scholarship will automatically be renewed if, at the end of the spring semester, a student has completed 12 or more credits per semester and has a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Courses taken through the School of Extended and Lifelong Learning (SELL) are not WUE eligible and are not counted in meeting the requirement to be full-time.

Students who are not continuously enrolled (except summers), transfer to Missoula College, establish Montana residency or become distance only students, forfeit the scholarship. WUE recipients cannot also receive the UMAAS scholarship and cease to be eligible for the WUE upon completion of a bachelor's degree.

The WUE scholarship can be used during summer terms.

Students wishing to establish MT residency cannot do so while receiving the benefit of the WUE scholarship.

Students who do not meet scholarship conditions may appeal for reinstatement using the Continuing Student 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 WUE.

UMAAS

The UMAAS is a tuition designated award. As such, it cannot exceed the cost of tuition when combined with other tuition designated awards such as tuition waivers or UMNeed Grants.

UMAAS Details

If an incoming freshman qualifies for the UMAAS, it is renewable for four years.

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

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, are awarded the WUE, establish Montana residency (in the case of non residents) or become distance only students, forfeit the scholarship. 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.

Non-Resident students wishing to establish MT residency cannot do so while receiving the benefit of the UMAAS.

Students who do not meet scholarship conditions may appeal for reinstatement using the Continuing Student 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.