Tuition and Fees

A student’s registration is not complete until all fees are paid or until fee payment arrangements have been made; deadlines apply.

The Business Services Office provides accounting and business services and strives to serve students in an efficient, effective, and timely manner in compliance with appropriate University, state, and federal regulations. The information that follows will help guide the student in understanding UMW’s fees, the costs associated with higher education, and the policies surrounding these issues.

According to federal law, a student’s financial and academic account is posted under the student’s name, not the parents’. Therefore, all fee statements, bills, and refund checks are mailed to the student, not the parent(s). However, refund checks generated as a result of a Parent PLUS loan are mailed to the parent(s) unless the UMW Financial Aid Office has received written authorization to disburse the funds to the student.

Students are personally responsible for knowledge of policies and procedures governing payment of fees at the time stated in the Academic Calendar . To finalize registration, students must complete the mandatory electronic Registration Finalization form through the student’s account in DAWGS.

Checks should be made payable to UMW for the exact amount due for fees, board and room, and other necessary expenses.

A check presented to UMW that is subsequently returned by the bank for insufficient funds or other reasons will cause the student to be charged a returned check service charge of $25 in addition to the face value of the check. If payment for a returned check including the $25 returned check charge is received after the fee payment deadline, UMW will also assess a late registration fee of $40. An additional $40 late registration fee will be charged if registration/payment has not occurred by the 15th instructional day. See Academic Calendar  for applicable dates and deadlines. Montana Board of Regents policy permits students to pay fees in three  installments. During a 16-week academic term, this policy provides that one-third (1/3) of all charges plus the $30 deferred payment fee are due by the first day of class, another one-third (1/3) within 30 days of the start of class, and the final one-third (1/3) within 60 days of the start of classes. A $30 deferred payment service fee is charged for deferring fees. A Deferred Payment Contract (available at Business Services or on the web at https://www.umwestern.edu/info/business-services/) must be signed and returned to Business Services. Failure to make deferred payments in accordance with the scheduled repayment plan may be cause for cancellation of a student’s enrollment with no refund of amounts previously collected. Students may be determined ineligible for a deferment the following semester.

Policies Business Services 

Monthly Bill Statements

A statement will be sent to students once before the beginning of each semester. Thereafter, billing statements will be electronic. Students may access their bills anytime online through their DAWGS account. It is the student’s responsibility to keep mailing addresses current through DAWGS online. Students are responsible for all tuition payments even if they have not received a billing statement.

Non-Payment

Any person who owes UMW any fees, fines, or other charges, regardless of the amount owed, will not be allowed to do any of the following until the full amount due has been paid or satisfactorily adjusted with Business Services:

• Receive academic credit or grades.
• Register for classes.
• Obtain any transcript, diploma, or record.
• Access any University facilities or services.

A late fee will be assessed the day after the due date if there is a balance due. Any attorney’s fees or other costs or charges necessary for the collection of the amount owed may be added to the outstanding balance.

Tuition and Mandatory Fee Schedules Fall/Spring 2021-22

Information about student fees provided in this catalog is based upon rates for the 2021-22 academic year. For a current schedule of tuition and fees, see the UMW website at https://www.umwestern.edu/section/tuition-and-fees/ The summary tables of fees listed below are the per-credit, per-semester charges for resident, nonresident, Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE students). All majors in Natural Horsemanship pay additional program tuition of $1,850.00 per semester.

Undergraduate/Post-Baccalaureate

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) – Students from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming may be eligible for the Western Undergraduate Exchange program. Upon notification of eligibility, these students will pay 1.5 times the incidental fee for resident students plus all other fees applicable to non-resident students. Contact Admissions for more information on WUE Scholarships.

Mandatory Fee Schedule Definition

All students are required to pay tuition and mandatory fees. All costs for a term must be paid, or satisfactory payment arrangements made, by the end of the third day of the semester/term, after which late fees will be charged (see Academic Calendar for applicable dates).

Special/Other Fees

¹The Board of Regents may approve additional fees at the request of campuses. Fees frequently are assessed for selected courses such as science course fees, art materials, and health & human performance course costs. Course-related fees are listed on fee statements, which are mailed to all registered students prior to the start of a regular semester, or may be viewed and printed from the website at https://www.umwestern.edu/info/business-services/ Special fees are assessed for extended field trips in various departments. An Education Service Fee is charged for off-campus programs. Other fees and costs may apply.

Costs of On Campus Services

On Campus Housing

Housing Residency Requirements

All students with fewer than 30 total credits are required to live in the residence halls. Exceptions to this policy are granted for the following reasons:

• Student is living at home with parents or guardians.
• Student is married or a parent with child custody.
• Student is 20 years of age or older.

Housing Deposit

Students applying for on-campus housing are required to pay a $200 housing deposit at the time of application. This deposit is applied as a damage deposit. Individuals who cancel their room reservation on a timely basis may be refunded the entire deposit depending upon the cancellation notification date. Students in the residence halls will receive a refund of the $200 damage deposit if there is no damage to their room at the time of final check-out, providing the proper residence hall check-out procedure is followed. Amounts listed are per semester unless otherwise stated.

Residence Hall Room & Board Rates

In addition to the room and board rates listed below, students in the residence halls are charged an additional $20 per semester residence hall activities fee to defray the cost of activities in the residence halls and a $50 per semester telecommunications fee, which is charged to all residents to defray a portion of the fixed costs of the telephone, network, and internet service. Each residence hall room has a telephone jack.

Single occupancy may be assigned depending on available space. For the 2021-22 academic year, UMW offers two meal plans.  Plan one continues to offer a seven-day meal plan and costs $2400 per semester.  Plan one allows students all day access to the dining hall and $130 is applied to a cash flex plan at the Bark-n-Bite convenience store. This allows students to dine at a time that fits into their schedule.  Plan two cost $1890 per semester and allows students 14 meals swipes per week in the dining hall.  In addition, $300 is applied to a cash flex plan at the Barc-n-Bite conveninece store.  There is no carry-over of unused funds to the next semester for either plan.

Family Housing Rates

Low-cost housing is available on a first-come, first-served basis to families with members attending Montana Western. The living accommodations include units with one and two bedrooms. Rental rates include utilities and cable television connections. Tenants pay a $200 damage deposit when they move into Family Housing. In addition, a $50 per semester telecommunications fee is charged to all residents to defray a portion of the fixed costs of the telephone, network, and internet service. Contact the Residence Life Office for information and applications.

Vehicle Registration

Students receive a vehicle hanger decal at no charge when they register their vehicle at Business Services. All students must display a current campus decal if they park on campus between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday year round. Regular parking decals that allow faculty and staff to park on campus are $60 for the year. Reserved parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis for $200 a year. There is a $7.50 replacement fee for all decals lost or stolen.

Other Services

Other services provided on campus include a full bookstore, testing programs, etc. As rates charged for these services are too varied to present in this publication, contact the department providing the service for more information

Refund of Fees

The withdrawal process begins and ends at the Registrar’s Office. The $30 Registration Fee, $30 Admissions Application Fee, and $84 Orientation Fee are non-refundable.

Refund for Withdrawal from the University

Students who withdraw or drop below full-time status during a regular 16-week semester will receive a refund based on the number of instruction days of a semester completed from the start of classes of a term until the time a student completes official action to drop/withdraw. The date used in determining the amount credited to the student’s account is the official withdrawal date as recorded by the UMW Registrar. There is no refund after the 15th class day of a term. Students using the deferred payment plan will have their withdrawal credit applied to their student account, but may still owe some or all of the deferred balance. All existing debts such as a deferred payment plan balance, library charges, bookstore charges, etc., will be deducted from any refund due the student. For further information, contact Business Services.

Refund of Fees – for Dropped Courses

The refund of fees for dropped courses is computed in accordance with the University’s regular fee schedule. No refund or credit is given for drops occurring after the 15th instructional day during a standard academic semester or the pro-rated equivalency during a shorter term.

Refund of Fees for Withdrawal from UMW – Regular Semester

Fees are refunded to students on a prorated basis in accordance with Montana Board of Regents and federal regulations for those who officially withdraw from UMW or drop below full-time status. The amount of fees refunded is based upon the date official action to drop/withdraw is completed, the student’s classification, and the amount of related fees paid. Students are considered enrolled up to the date the Registrar’s Office validates the official withdrawal request or Drop/Add/Withdrawal form. Only in unusual or emergency situations will the Registrar’s Office post-date a withdrawal/drop and/or last date of attendance as a basis for calculating a refund.

Withdrawal Date for Regular Semester

Note: Refund percentages shown below do not include any nonrefundable fees. The “Day of Instruction” pertains to the instructional day of the term as determined by the Academic Calendar (usually the first day of the first block of the semester).

Refund of Fees for Withdrawal from UMW Time-Shortened Terms (Summer Session)

Students withdrawing from UMW during a term that is shorter than a regular 16-week semester will receive a refund based upon the percentage of the term completed and the amount of related fees paid. The following schedule reflects the percentage of the paid fees to be refunded in these instances. Refund percentages shown below do not include any nonrefundable fees.

Withdrawal Date For Time-Shortened Courses

The “Day of Instruction” pertains to the instructional day of the term as determined by the Academic Calendar.

Return of Federal Aid Funds

Federal regulations define the amount of federal aid funds to be returned by students who have received aid for the semester in which they withdraw. Students who have received aid must consult the Financial Aid Office before withdrawing.

Return of Unearned Tuition Assistance (TA) Funds

Montana Western returns unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least the 60 percent portion of the period for which the funds were provided.  TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending. 

For a normal block period (eighteen days) the following TA funds would be returned to the Military Department:

• In those instances when a Service member stops attending due to military service obligation, Business Services will work with the affected Service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion.
• Tuition assistance funds will be returned directly to the Military Service not to the Service Member.
• When using GoArmyEd.com Business Services will request payment after Service member has completed each block. 
• If another form of tuition assistance is utilized, Business Services will work directly with the Military Service to return funds within thirty (30) days of the Service member leaving the institution.

Refund of Room & Board Charges

Fees paid for room and board charges are refunded on a prorated basis. During the final two weeks of the term, room fees will be forfeited. Residence Hall and Dining Service fee refunds are calculated on a daily prorated basis for students officially withdrawing from UMW. No Residence Hall or Dining Service refunds are made to students who have claimed their reservations for any semester by picking up a key or residing in a hall unless the student has officially withdrawn from UMW by the published deadline for withdrawal.

Medical Withdrawal

Medical withdrawals are granted for significant medical problems. Refunds for medical withdrawals initiated after the third week of classes are reviewed only if a significant medical problem originated in the first three weeks. Documentation from a medical provider must be provided.

Outreach/Extension Withdrawal

Requests for withdrawal from Outreach/Extension courses must be submitted in writing to the School of Outreach. Exceptions may apply to courses requiring the prepayment of fees. Exceptions are described in the Outreach Bulletins

Veterans Benefits Chapter 31 and 33 Payments

UMW will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33.