Deciphering the University of Montana Financial Aid Program

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University of Montana Financial Aid From A to Z

Beautiful landscapes, top-level study programs, and various research opportunities make the University of Montana a popular choice among prospective students. Still, the sticker price, which can reach over $40,000 per year, can prevent them from applying.

The best way to overcome your financial issues and make the most of the University of Montana financial aid program is to find out who is eligible, what the application process entails, and what amount of support you can expect!

What You Need To Know Before Applying for Financial Aid at the University of Montana

The University of Montana states that the priority consideration period for financial aid applications is between October 1 and December 1. Students who apply within that time frame have a greater chance of the University of Montana Financial Aid Office meeting their financial needs with the following types of aid:

  1. Grants and scholarships
  2. Student employment programs
  3. Tuition waivers
  4. Loans

University of Montana Financial Aid—Grants and Scholarships

Depending on your financial need and application date, you might receive some of the following non-returnable awards from the University of Montana:

CategoryAwards
Need-based
  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
  • UM Need Grant
  • MUS Honor Scholarship
  • Montana Access Scholarships
Need-blind/merit-based
  • Federal TEACH Grant
  • Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Scholarship
  • RaiseMe Program
Groups of both need-based and need-blind scholarships
  • Davidson Honors College scholarships
  • University of Montana Academic Achievement Scholarship (UMAAS) Program
Special student categories
  • Maureen and Mike Mansfield Native American Scholarship
  • Montana's STEM/Healthcare Scholarship Program
  • ROTC Scholarships
  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

Each of the academic departments at the University of Montana offers merit-based scholarships to students achieving extraordinary academic progress. UM students should inquire at their department about available scholarships and the required criteria.

Student Employment Programs at the University of Montana

The University of Montana enables its students to earn tuition money through the following student employment programs:

  • Federal Work-Study—The University prioritizes Work-Study candidates who apply by December 1 of the year before enrollment and have an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) score lower than 16,000. UM students receive their paychecks twice a month and cannot work more than 19 hours per week. Summer Work-Study is available part-time for summer class attendees and full-time for students enrolling in the following fall term
  • Other student employment opportunities—UM students who don’t qualify or apply for Work-Study can use the Griz eRecruiting platform to find on- and off-campus jobs

University of Montana Financial Aid—Tuition Waivers

Another way UM students can reduce their educational expenses are tuition waivers, and the University can consider them for the following ones:

CategoryTuition Waivers
Special student groups
  • American Indian Tuition Waiver
  • Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver
  • Montana Honorably Discharged Veteran Tuition Waiver
  • War Orphan Tuition Waiver
  • Surviving Dependents of a MT National Guard Member Tuition Waiver
  • Surviving Dependents of a MT Firefighter or Peace Officer Tuition Waiver
  • The Yellow Ribbon Program
Institutional waivers
  • Faculty/Staff Tuition Waiver
Montana University System tuition waivers
  • The MUS Honors Scholarship
  • Community College 2 + 2 Honors Scholarship
  • Dependents of Faculty/Staff Partial Tuition Waiver
National tuition waivers
  • National Merit Semi-Finalist Scholarship

Loans You Can Get From the University of Montana

Suppose you still have a massive amount of student contributions to pay despite receiving all other types of financial aid. In that case, you can borrow the following loans to afford to attend the University of Montana:

  • Federal Direct and Direct PLUS loans
    • For parents
    • For graduate students
  • Institutional loans
    • Short-term loans
    • Henry Strong Loans
    • Departmental loans
  • Private loans

How To Apply for Financial Aid at the University of Montana

To apply for and receive financial aid from the University of Montana, prospective students need to:

  1. Submit their admission application
  2. Complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  3. Check the CyberBear portal regularly for any additional tasks and review the award offer when the University of Montana Financial Aid Office sends it
  4. Become a regularly admitted UM student

Contact the financial aid office on your UM campus and talk to a consultant if you have any questions about the application process by calling one of the numbers from the table below:

CampusPhone Number of the Financial Aid Office
UM—Missoula406-243-5373
Missoula College UM406-243-5373
Helena College UM406-447-6916
Montana Tech406-496-4223
Highlands College of Montana Tech406-496-4223
UM Western866-869-6668

If the University of Montana Financial Aid Office on your campus rejects your application or offers insufficient financial support, you can file an appeal. The Forms page on the UM website contains all of the necessary paperwork you need to submit. Including a financial aid appeal letter that explains your financial setbacks in detail can maximize your chances of getting more aid. Although it seems intimidating, writing a convincing appeal letter is a simple three-step process if you !

Use DoNotPay To Send an Appeal Letter to the University of Montana Financial Aid Office in a Jiffy!

Follow these steps to request a financial aid application reconsideration from the University of Montana in a flash:

  1. from any web browser
  2. Search for Appeal for More Financial Aid
  3. Explain the circumstances that are causing financial stress for you and your family

Once you complete all steps, DoNotPay will generate and send a custom appeal letter to the University of Montana on your behalf.

If you’re curious about financial aid programs at graduate schools or the number of years you can receive financial aid for, check out our learning center to get the latest information about these topics and many more!

Alternatives to the University of Montana

Prepare for the worst outcome and check out other schools and their financial aid programs you can apply for if the University of Montana doesn’t meet your financial needs:

University of California, Santa Cruz Financial AidColumbia University Financial AidPrinceton University Financial Aid
University of California, Davis Financial AidYale University Financial AidNew York University Financial Aid
Cornell University Financial AidMIT Financial AidUniversity of California, San Diego Financial Aid
Purdue University Financial AidUniversity of California, Berkeley Financial AidRutgers University Financial Aid
Harvard University Financial AidStanford University Financial AidUniversity of California, Los Angeles Financial Aid

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