University of Montana

Nestled in the heart of western Montana’s stunning natural landscape, the University of Montana is a place where top-tier students, educators and researchers from across the country and around the globe come and thrive. UM is located in Missoula, Montana’s second-largest city with a population of 80,000 residents. The University draws a diverse population to Missoula and helps cultivate an educated, engaged and vibrant community.

More than 13,000 students attend UM and Missoula College, where they receive a world-class education in a broad range of subjects that include the trades, liberal arts, graduate and postdoctoral study and professional training. Currently, 832 students from 81 different foreign countries attend UM.

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  Main Campus

  Missoula, Montana, United States

  5,000 - 20,000 on Campus

  <100,000 residents in Missoula

  Language(s) spoken on campus: English

  The University of Montana is located in Missoula, a scenic and safe city bustling with activity. Nestled in the Rocky Mountain grandeur of Western Montana, Missoula is the hub of five valleys and three major rivers – the Blackfoot, the Bitterroot and the Clark Fork. Roughly halfway between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, Missoula is a blend of small-town charm and big-city sophistication. Nicknamed “the Garden City,” Missoula is surrounded by vast wilderness, active wildlife and protected national forests. Since the Montanan landscape is diverse with flat plains, mountains, rivers and lakes, visitors and citizens alike participate in a wide variety of outdoor activities such as backpacking, camping, hiking, biking, running, skiing, paddling, hunting, kayaking, fishing and rock climbing. One of the first things visitors notice is how friendly people are here. With about 86,000 residents and visitors from around the globe, the city has an increasingly diverse population. Missoula is rich in cultural attractions ranging from the symphony, arts, live theatre, historical museums, shops, galleries and numerous sporting activities and events. Montana is truly, as it is known, “the last best place on Earth.” 

  “Most scenic campus in America” 
  –Rolling Stone magazine 

  “Among the top 10 colleges nationally for combining academic quality and outdoor recreation” 
  –Outside Magazine

  While the campus is bordered by the Clark Fork River, Mount Sentinel, and stretches 200-acres, departments and campus recreation programs are situated near each other. The Grizzly Pool and the Fitness and Recreation Center stand near each other and are available to all students. There are at least 18 club sports to join and more than 30 intramural team sports.

  UM is home to The Payne Family Native American Center which is the first facility in the U.S. built expressly to accommodate a Department of Native American Studies, American Indian Student Services office and other related campus programming. This building was given the last prime piece of land near the campus Oval, underscoring its importance to UM campus. It has artistic representation of all of the 12 tribes within the State of Montana and it is the first LEED Platinum Green building on the University campus.

  Currently, there are more than 200 officially recognized clubs and organizations. These student groups represent a wide variety of academic, pre-professional, spiritual, political, musical, support service, sport and special interest topics. See a full list of current student groups. 

  The International Student Association, for example, is one among many other international student groups and works with Foreign Student and Scholar Services to offer social, cultural and educational activities to all foreign students. The organization also organizes an annual International Culture and Food Festival an event offering integration into the University and community though various social, cultural and educational activities and programs. FSSS, located in the Emma B. Lommasson building, coordinates the Global Partners Program, a campus peer-mentoring program which connects international students with UM students in order to help new international students during their first semester on campus. FSSS also offers educational field trips and winter and summer break activities. 

  The Office of International Programs is home to two similar groups. The Study Abroad Program under OIP facilitates student exchanges and is responsible for sending UM students abroad. To reach out and encourage UM students to study abroad, the Study Abroad Ambassador program and the Study Abroad Student Association participate in Study Abroad fairs.