Scholarships

Scholarships are forms of aid given on the basis of academic merit. Though scholarships vary quite a bit on criteria, award, and duration, they all share one common factor: they are free money for your education.

The University of Montana offers the following scholarship opportunities:

• Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarships
• The Presidential Leadership Scholarship (PLS)
• Outside Donor
• Montana Resident Entering Student
• Non-Resident Entering Student
• The National Merit Scholarship
• National and International Scholarships for all UM Students
• The Horatio Alger Montana Scholarship Program
• Departmental Scholarships
• UM General Scholarship for Currently Enrolled Students
• The University of Montana Matched Education Savings Account (MESA) Program
• ROTC Incentives
• Athletic Scholarships
• Osher Reentry Scholarship
• Departmental Use Resources

For Outside Donors

External Scholarships and Fellowships Program

Students who have demonstrated unusual ability, achievement, drive, leadership skill and experience, manifested concern for others, and/or commitment to their fields of study should contact the Director of External Scholarships and Advising ASAP for scholarship advising and coaching.

External scholarship applications for the Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, Gates Cambridge, Truman, Udall, Goldwater, Carnegie Junior Fellows Program, and other opportunities require long-term coaching and usually an official UM nomination, so start the process as soon as you learn about the program.

Watch out for scholarship scams

There are six common scams:

• Application and processing fees
• Loan Fees
• Guaranteed winnings
• "Everybody is eligible" - Scholarships all have selective criteria
• Unclaimed aid myth - "Billions of dollars of scholarships go unclaimed every year"
• "We will apply on your behalf"
• If you receive an unexpected scholarship check please use caution and never send your personal, including social security number, or banking information. Scholarship checks should be sent to the Financial Aid Office to be deposited into your UM student account
• Never give out your social security number or bank information for a scholarship.

Departmental use resources.