A UM Journalism student kneels with a camera and takes photos of a controlled burn in the University of Montana's Lubrecht Experimental Forest near Missoula, MT.

Journalism

Undergraduate Scholarships & Financial Aid

A top-10 nationally ranked journalism program. A public university tuition. And $426,000 in scholarships awarded to current students in 2026 alone.

That's the value proposition at UM Journalism. Affordability shouldn't be the reason a talented student chooses a lesser program — and at UM, it doesn't have to be. A community of alumni and donors has invested nearly $7 million in this School over the last accreditation cycle because they believe in what happens here. A significant portion of that investment flows directly to students every year through scholarships funded by people who graduated from this program and want to make it possible for the next generation to do the same.


The Director's Scholar Program

For incoming freshmen and transfer students — up to $5,000 in first-year scholarship support

Director's Scholars are some of the most driven young journalists and storytellers in the country. They earn first-year scholarships of up to $5,000, receive personal mentorship from the School Director, and join a community of students who are shaping what journalism looks like next.

This program is not just for straight-A students. It's for the photographer who has already been shooting, the writer whose work has already been published, the producer who started a podcast in their bedroom. What we're looking for is talent, curiosity, and a clear sense of why journalism matters to you.

What Scholars receive:

  • First-year scholarships of up to $5,000
  • Personal advising from School Director Lee Banville before classes begin and throughout the year
  • Invitations to meet and network with visiting national and regional journalists and editors
  • Participation in a J-School advisory group that helps shape the direction of the School
  • Opportunities to connect with alumni throughout the semester
  • Potential sponsored membership in the Society of Professional Journalists student chapter

Who should apply:

The Director's Scholar Program is open to both incoming freshmen and transfer students who are majoring or planning to major in Journalism at UM. Eligibility is based on academic record and demonstrated promise as a journalist or communicator — not on perfection. If your school doesn't have a journalism program but you've found other ways to tell stories, don't let that stop you from applying.

How to apply:

Send the following by email to School Director Lee Banville at lee.banville@umontana.edu:

  1. A letter of interest — Make the case for what you'll get from a UM Journalism education and what you'll bring to this community. Tell us who you are as a journalist and where you want to go.
  2. An unofficial transcript from your current high school or college.
  3. Up to three work samples — links or copies of work that captures your current abilities. This could be published articles, a photo portfolio, video or audio pieces, a podcast, a social media account, or anything else that shows what you can do.

Deadlines for Fall 2027:

Early decision: December 1, 2026 Scholars selected in this round will be notified by mid-January 2027. Applying by December 1 is the best way to secure your place in the program — this round tends to be competitive, and early applicants often have a stronger shot.

Regular deadline: February 15, 2027 Scholars selected in this round will be notified by late March 2027, giving you time to compare your financial aid offer from UM against other schools before National College Decision Day on May 1.

Questions? Email Lee Banville directly at lee.banville@umontana.edu.

 

Scholarships for Current Students

Once you're enrolled, you become eligible for the School's annual scholarship cycle — a robust pool of awards funded by alumni and donors who care deeply about journalism education.

How awards are made: Most scholarships are awarded through two pathways. The first is the UM Scholarship Portal, which requires a general application — complete it once and you're automatically considered for every award you're eligible for. The second pathway is faculty nomination: professors identify students who have produced outstanding work in their classes and recommend them for named scholarships. You don't apply for these — you earn them through the work you do here.

Apply through the UM Scholarship Portal →

The earlier you apply through the Portal, the better. We recommend completing the general application as soon as you arrive — some awards have earlier cycles than others.


University-Wide Financial Aid

School of Journalism scholarships work alongside — not instead of — financial aid you may receive through the University of Montana. UM offers a robust financial aid program including federal and state grants, loans, and work-study. For a full picture of what a UM education costs and what support is available, visit the Financial Aid Office and the tuition and costs page.

 

A Top-10 Program. Not a Top-10 Price Tag.

Affordability is the number-one factor prospective students name when choosing where to apply for a bachelor's degree. UM Journalism ranked 10th overall in the nation in the 2025–2026 Hearst Journalism Awards — often called the college Pulitzers — among 104 accredited programs. The same quality of journalism education at a large private university would cost substantially more. At UM, you get nationally recognized faculty, professional facilities connected to Montana PBS and Montana Public Radio, and a curriculum built around real journalism from your first semester — at a Montana public university price.

Explore the undergraduate program → Apply today →