University of Montana· Renewal Rules
Keeping University of Montana’s Merit Aid for Four Years
What the financial-aid office actually requires after freshman year: minimum GPA, credit-hour pace, and the cliffs that quietly downgrade families mid-degree.
At a glance
- Renewable tiers
- 5 of 5
- One-time tiers
- 0
- Tiers with published renewal terms
- 5
- Renewal risk profile
- high
Renewal risk profile
University of Montana's top merit tiers carry renewal floors at or above 3.5 cumulative GPA, which is above the median freshman college GPA at most US flagships. A single rough semester can knock a four-year award out without a published reinstatement path. Plan year-one course load with renewal in mind, not just first-year survival.
- UM Academic Achievement Scholarship (UMAAS) — In-State Incoming Freshman Grid: See notes
- UMAAS — Out-of-State Incoming Freshman Grid: 2.5 GPA
- UMAAS — In-State Transfer Grid: 2.5 GPA
- UMAAS — Out-of-State Transfer Grid: 2.5 GPA
- Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Tuition Discount: See notes
Renewal terms by tier
UM Academic Achievement Scholarship (UMAAS) — In-State Incoming Freshman Grid
$1,000-$4,000Entry requirements: Unweighted cumulative high school GPA (see grid) GPA
To keep it: Renewable for four years; must enroll in 15 credits each semester (or 30 credits/academic year) and have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 at the end of spring. Forfeited if not continuously enrolled, if transferring to Missoula or Bitterroot College, or becoming online-only. Not available in summer.
UMAAS — Out-of-State Incoming Freshman Grid
$5,000-$18,000Entry requirements: Unweighted cumulative high school GPA (see grid) GPA
To keep it: Renewable for four years; 15 credits/semester (or 30/year) and 2.5 cumulative GPA at end of spring. Forfeited if not continuously enrolled, if transferring to Missoula College, if AWARDED THE WUE, if you ESTABLISH MONTANA RESIDENCY, or become online-only.
UMAAS — In-State Transfer Grid
$1,500-$2,500Entry requirements: Unweighted cumulative college GPA (see grid) GPA
To keep it: Renewability based on transfer credits accepted: 0-29 credits = four years, 30-59 = three years, 60+ = two years. Must maintain 2.5 cumulative GPA and 15 credits/semester.
UMAAS — Out-of-State Transfer Grid
$0-$12,500Entry requirements: Unweighted cumulative college GPA (see grid) GPA
To keep it: Renewability based on transfer credits accepted (0-29 = four years, 30-59 = three years, 60+ = two years); 2.5 cumulative GPA and 15 credits/semester. Same out-of-state forfeiture rules (WUE/residency/online-only).
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Tuition Discount
Reduced WUE tuition rate (~$13,718 tuition+fees/yr 2026-27)To keep it: WUE recipients must take 15 or more credits per semester.
How families lose this aid
- Trying to take both the WUE discount and the UMAAS
For out-of-state students the two are mutually exclusive — being awarded the WUE forfeits the UMAAS. You must compare net cost under each path and choose one.
- Establishing Montana residency to lower tuition without checking the scholarship effect
An out-of-state UMAAS recipient who establishes Montana residency forfeits the UMAAS (which can be $5,000-$18,000/yr), potentially a net loss versus keeping non-resident status.
- Coasting below 15 credits or a 2.5 GPA
Renewal requires 15 credits each semester (or 30/year) and a 2.5 cumulative GPA at the end of spring; the award won't even disburse in a semester until you're enrolled in 15+ credits, and it isn't available in summer.
Renewal questions families ask
- Do I need to apply separately for UMAAS?
- No — you're automatically considered when you apply for admission, but you must apply by March 1 and submit an unofficial transcript; the amount is set from the GPA on file at admission (you can petition for reconsideration if your GPA improves).
- Can I get both UMAAS and the WUE tuition discount?
- No. Out-of-state students awarded the WUE forfeit the UMAAS; the two cannot be combined.
- What do I need to renew UMAAS?
- A cumulative 2.5 GPA at the end of spring and 15 credits each semester (or 30 credits per academic year); renewable up to four years for freshmen (fewer years for transfers based on credits accepted).
Rules that bite at University of Montana
The renewal trip wires we'd flag in a custom playbook, derived from University of Montana's own tier rules and not generic advice.
- renewalUM Academic Achievement Scholarship (UMAAS) — In-State Incoming Freshman Grid: renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out
Renewable for four years; must enroll in 15 credits each semester (or 30 credits/academic year) and have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 at the end of spring. Forfeited if not continuously enrolled, if transferring to Missoula or Bitterroot College, or becoming online-only. Not available in summer. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.
How University of Montana compares across our verified dataset
- 247 of 272 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.
University of Montana is one of them. The cohort minority (25 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.
Sources used on this page
Every renewal claim is checked against University of Montana’s own published materials.
More on University of Montana merit aid
- University of Montana merit aid overviewFull tier ladder, named scholarships, departmental awards, and how families decide.
- University of Montana scholarship stackingWhether outside awards land as upside or quietly displace institutional aid.
- Does University of Montana displace outside scholarships?The dollar math on a $5,000 outside award, plus peer schools that handle it differently.