Montana Scholarship Guarantee

Your Guaranteed Scholarship Amount

Through the Montana Scholarship Guarantee, Montana resident first-year and transfer students pursuing their first bachelor's degree are guaranteed a minimum amount of UM scholarship funding based on their GPA. You are automatically considered when you apply for admission. No separate application is needed. 

Your admission letter and financial aid award will show this amount as your admissions scholarship. Your admissions scholarship is a placeholder for your guaranteed amount, not a specific named scholarship. Student Financial Services will replace it with one or more funded UM scholarships that together equal the same amount. 

Guaranteed Amounts by GPA

Guaranteed admissions scholarship amounts based on high school GPA 
High School GPA Annual Amount
4.0+ $4,000 renewable for four years ($16,000 four-year value)
3.5 to 3.99 $3,000 renewable for four years ($12,000 four-year value)
3.0 to 3.49 $2,000 renewable for four years ($8,000 four-year value)
2.7 to 2.99 $1,000 renewable for four years ($4,000 four-year value)
Guaranteed admissions scholarship amounts based on transfer GPA
Transfer GPA Annual Amount
3.50+ $2,500
3.25 to 3.49 $2,000
3.00 to 3.249 $1,500
2.99 and below $0

How Your Scholarship Is Assigned

How Your Admissions Scholarship is Assigned 

Your admissions scholarship will be replaced with one or more funded UM scholarships, such as donor-funded, departmental or institutional awards. Scholarships are assigned starting in May. When yours is assigned, the admissions scholarship in your Griz Portal will change to the name of your assigned scholarship. Your amount will not go down. Assignments are made to meet donor intent, institutional policy and award-stacking rules. 

Tuition Only 

Your admissions scholarship, and any scholarship assigned to replace it, can only be applied to tuition. It cannot be combined with a full-tuition waiver. If you receive more than one tuition-designated award, the total cannot be more than your tuition cost. If you receive another tuition waiver or third-party tuition coverage, your guaranteed amount may be reduced or canceled under UM award-stacking policies. 

Transcript Required 

You must submit an unofficial copy of your high school transcript to receive your admissions scholarship. Any amount shown before then is preliminary. 

Other Aid 

To maximize grant and scholarship opportunities, we encourage new students to complete the FAFSA and apply for departmental and renewable scholarships through Scholarship Universe. 

Eligibility at Entry 

Students who do not qualify for an admissions scholarship when they enter UM cannot qualify for one later. They are encouraged to apply for Continuing Student Scholarships. 

Renewal Requirements

The scholarship assigned to fund your guaranteed amount may change from year to year. Your guaranteed amount continues as long as you meet the requirements below.

Renewal requirements by start term: Fall 2025 or after versus before Fall 2025
Renewal Criteria Started Fall 2025 or After Started Before Fall 2025
Minimum Cumulative GPA (end of spring) 2.5 2.5
Minimum Credits per Semester 15 credits/semester 12 credits/semester
Minimum Credits per Academic Year 30 credits
(fall, spring & summer)		 24 credits
(fall, spring & summer)
Enrollment Requirement Must be continuously enrolled (Exception: Summer Term) Must be continuously enrolled (Exception: Summer Term)
Summer Term Eligibility Not available for summer Not available for summer
Missoula College of Bitterroot College Transfer Forfeit scholarship Forfeit scholarship
Online-Only Students Forfeit scholarship Forfeit scholarship
Post-Baccalaureate / Graduate Students Not eligible Not eligible
Maximum Duration 4 years 4 years
Transfer Student Award Eligibility Remaining 0–29 credits: 4 years
30–59 credits: 3 years
60+ credits: 2 years		 0–29 credits: 4 years
30–59 credits: 3 years
60+ credits: 2 years
Completion of Bachelor's Degree Lose eligibility upon completion Lose eligibility upon completion
Appeal Process Scholarship Appeal Form Scholarship Appeal Form

Frequently Asked Questions

  • It is UM's commitment that Montana students receive at least a set amount of scholarship funding each year, based on their GPA at admission. Your letters show this amount as your admissions scholarship. 

  • It is a placeholder for your guaranteed amount. It is not a scholarship by itself. UM will replace it with one or more funded scholarships that equal the same amount. 

  • Scholarships are assigned starting in May. You will see the name of your assigned scholarship in your Griz Portal. 

  • No. Your assigned scholarship or scholarships will equal your admissions scholarship amount. The only exceptions are the tuition and award-stacking rules described above. 

  • Your amount is based on the high school GPA available when you are admitted. See amounts by GPA. Apply by March 1 to be considered automatically. Only Montana residents are eligible. 

    If your GPA goes up later, you can request reconsideration by logging into your Admitted Student Checklist and following the instructions there. 

  • Your amount is based on the transfer GPA available when you are admitted. See amounts by GPA. Apply by March 1 to be considered automatically. Only Montana residents are eligible. 

    If your GPA goes up later, you will need to request reconsideration by logging into your Admitted Student Checklist and following the instructions there. 

  • Yes. For first-year students, your guaranteed amount renews for up to four years. For transfer students, the number of years depends on the transfer credits UM accepts: 0 to 29 credits, four years; 30 to 59 credits, three years; 60 or more credits, two years. 

    The scholarship assigned to fund your guaranteed amount may be different each year. To finish a degree on time, most students need to average 15 credits per semester. 

  • You must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 at the end of spring semester and meet the credit requirement for your start term. Students who started in Fall 2025 or later need 15 credits per semester (30 per academic year, including summer). Students who started before Fall 2025 need 12 credits per semester (24 per academic year, including summer). 

    You will lose your admissions scholarship if you are not continuously enrolled (summer excepted), transfer to Missoula College or Bitterroot College, or become an online-only student. Eligibility ends when you complete a bachelor's degree. Post-baccalaureate and graduate students are not eligible. 

    Your admissions scholarship will not be paid out in a semester until you are enrolled in the required number of credits. It is not available for summer term. 

    If you do not meet these requirements, you may appeal using the Scholarship Appeal Form. 

    Your guaranteed amount renews automatically as long as you meet these requirements.