Distance-Only Status
Students enrolled only in online, synchronous remote, and limited on-site programs may opt into distance-only status for the purpose of waiving the immunization and health insurance requirements as well as certain campus-based tuition/fee charges.
Generally, distance-only status is not automatically applied to student records because distance-only students do not have access to student services listed under restrictions on this page.
Switching to distance-only status also affects eligibility for certain scholarships. Contact the Financial Aid Office for information on particular scholarships, loans, or grants.
Fully Online Program
Any academic degree or certificate program in which all of the required coursework can be completed through online delivery via the campus’s Learning Management System (LMS).
Remote Program
Any academic degree or certificate program in which all of the instruction can be delivered via synchronous video conferencing delivery or a combination of both synchronous video conferencing and asynchronous online delivery.
Online with Limited On-site Program
Any academic degree or certificate program in which 80% or more of the required instruction (but not all) can be completed via online and/or video conferencing delivery. Instruction not provided via online and/ or video conferencing must require only concentrated, short-term, on-site experiences and/ or internship, clinical, or practicum experiences that may be completed near a student’s location.
Deadlines
Changes to or from distance-only status may only be made through the 15th instructional day of the fall or spring semesters. The deadline for summer is the same as the published bill payment deadline (typically around mid-May). Changes may not be made after those dates or for past semesters.
Fall Semester 2026: September 14, 2026
Notice: Bill Payment Deadlines
Failure to pay a registration bill by the published payment deadline while waiting for a distance-only form to be processed will not qualify for a late fee waiver. Once the in-person fees are reversed, any overpayments will be credited back to the student's account.
Payment deadlines are posted on the Student Accounts website.
Cost Comparison
- Visit the Student Accounts tuition and fees page.
- Select the academic year from the top of the screen.
- Compare the cost per credit from the campus-based chart to the distance-only chart.
Restrictions
Distance-only students are prohibited from enrolling in any course that has any potential face-to-face component. Registration is limited to course sections with the attendance methods of online asynchronous, online synchronous remote, or limited on-site delivery. These courses are typically denoted with a section number of 50 through 59.
Distance-only students are not eligible for:
- Certain scholarships, including WUE (WUE scholarship conditions). Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.
- Student housing (e.g. residence halls, University Villages).
Distance-only students are not charged the following mandatory campus service fee
- Curry Health Center
- Campus Recreation
- ASUM services (e.g. low-cost legal services, childcare, etc.)
- Athletic fee, which includes discounted tickets for athletic events
Distance-only students may opt into these fees through their GrizPortal. In addition, students may opt in to student health insurance.
Submit a Request
Before submitting the form, please note:
- Students must be enrolled in a program of study that offers degrees fully online, online with limited on-site learning, or remote. A list of online programs can be found in the UM Academic Catalog.
- Students not currently enrolled in one of these programs before submitting this form with have their requests denied. Major changes need to be requested by advisors or program directors.
- New students must make this change through Admissions.
- Please allow 7 to 10 business days for processing.
- Distance-only status will remain in effect from the selected start semester forward. Undergraduate students should email graduation@umontana.edu, and graduate students should email grad.school@umontana.edu should they wish to change to in-person.
- Ready to submit your request? Go to the Change to Distance-Only Program form.
Questions?
New Undergraduates
Email: admissions@umontana.edu
Phone: 406-243-6266
Continuing Undergraduates
Email: graduation@umontana.edu
Phone: 406-243-5600
Graduate Students
Email: grad.school@umontana.edu
Phone: 406-243-2572