Montana's flagship public research university educating Grizzlies for 131 years in Missoula's mountain shadow.
The University of Montana comprises eleven colleges and schools offering 500 degree pathways from associate to doctoral levels. Strengths include the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation (with five undergraduate majors and advanced research programs), the School of Journalism (founded 1914), the Alexander Blewett III School of Law (ABA-accredited since 1923), and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy. The university is classified as R1: Doctoral Universities with very high research activity and generated $88 million in sponsored research funding in 2017.
The 220-acre campus centers on the historic Oval, surrounded by 64 buildings including nine residence halls. Iconic landmarks include the grizzly bear statue by Rudy Autio (1969), the illuminated 'M' on Mount Sentinel, and Memorial Row honoring WWI casualties. Students engage through 4 fraternities, 3 sororities, and numerous clubs. The university maintains partnerships with over 90 universities in 40+ countries, with significant ties to Japan, China, and Chile. Housing, dining, and recreation facilities support the residential experience.
For fall 2017, the university received 6,182 applications with a 93% acceptance rate. The entering freshman class averaged a 3.55 high school GPA; middle 50% SAT ranges were 540–650 (reading/writing) and 520–620 (math); ACT composite range was 21–26. The university accepts undergraduate, graduate, international, and dual enrollment applicants through distinct pathways.
UM is a space-grant institution with an endowment of $320.7 million (2025) and a total operating budget of approximately $423 million (FY 2017). The university has produced 11 Truman Scholars, 14 Goldwater Scholars, and 40 Udall Scholars. Recent journalism graduates earned national honors at the Hearst Journalism Championships. The Big Sky Aphasia Program, led by UM alumna Dr. Jenna Musick, provides internationally recognized speech therapy and student training.