You don’t need another university telling you why they’re great. So, we flipped the
script. We made a website that’s adapted to what you want. Think of it like a compass
for your individual UM journey. Let’s see where we can go together.
College is way more than the sum of your classes. It’s also an opportunity to immerse
yourself in all that UM’s campus life has to offer. There’s a lot to do. Time to get
started.
Finding friends and building a community is a key factor in student success, retention
and persistence to graduation. Connect with the resources here to help you (and your family) build a support network
before you start classes.
Welcome to the Grizzly Den
No one likes to enter a party alone. That's why we welcome all new Grizzlies to campus
life through student orientation where you will do adult stuff, like register for
classes, but also party with fellow students, live the Big Sky Life and settle into
campus life.
Connect with other incoming students before arriving on campus through the ZeeMee
app. Once you are accepted to UM, be sure to join the University of Montana Admitted
Students community.
UM's Greek Life community is small but mighty. Students in this tight-knit squad are
service-minded and active on campus and around Missoula. With a focus on academic
achievement and networking for career success, our fraternity and sorority members
go on to big things.
Help your student make the most of their UM Admissions experience by tapping into
a host of resources designed especially for you. Visit the Parents and Families webpage on the Admissions website for more resources.
UM offers the academic excellence that honors student Katherine Wendeln was seeking,
but it was the welcoming vibe on campus and in the community that sealed the deal.
As a student she's interned with a local nonprofit, joined several student clubs and
served as a backpacking trip leader.
The College Tour: Why You Should Choose UM
Connect and elevate
UM is home to a thriving and active honors community of 800 students. Benefits include
small class sizes, specialized faculty mentorship and extensive support for out-of-classroom
experiences. Plus, the honors student lounge has the best napping couches on campus.
With more than 180 student organizations on campus, you're certain to find a club
that suits your passions. Join a student group that aligns with your long-standing
interests or branch out and try something new! View photos and videos of student clubs in action from the staff of the Montana Kaimin, UM's student newspaper.
Planning to live on campus? Great! Residential students find a lot of opportunities
to connect with people from around the world and get an extra few minutes of sleep
before they have to get to class.
We don't call them dorms
Our residence halls are more than a place to crash at night. They’re a home where
you’ll make new friends, take a needed break between class and learn to separate your
dark laundry from the whites. We offer lots of options to suit your needs.
Share your passion for exploring social issues, connect with a like-minded community
and make lifelong friends who share a vision of creating a better future. Students
in our Living Learning Communities live together in a designated floor of our residence
halls and share common classes.
Like many students, Josh Martelon felt nervous about moving far from home to attend
college, but living on campus gave him the community support to thrive. Inspired by
his on-campus living experience, Josh became a resident assistant and helps other
students find their place at UM.
The College Tour: Living on Campus
Apartment Living
Lewis and Clark Village features 2- and 3-bedroom apartments with private bedrooms.
Each resident in the apartment has an individual rental contract. Students must have
earned at least 24 credits to be eligible to live in Lewis and Clark Village.
UM’s University Villages is an apartment community that welcomes students with families
who are looking for a kid-friendly lifestyle close to campus with access to everyday
necessities like laundry machines, bus service, bike racks and play areas.
You're going to need high quality fuel to get you through busy days of classes, studying
and adventuring. Explore the many food options we serve up for our campus community.
Eat your heart out.
Grizzlies have big appetites. That's why no matter were you are on campus, there's
a place to fuel up. And we've got a smorgasbord of meal plans and dining options to
suit your dining preferences.
Eating right is key to your academic success. That's why Campus Dining offers free
nutritional counseling to all students with a meal plan. Let us help you navigate
your food allergies, religious requirements, medical restrictions and dietary needs.
When you live in a beautiful place, being earth friendly just comes naturally. UM’s
Campus Dining serves locally grown produce – some from our own garden – and reduces
waste through extensive recycling and composting efforts.
Whether dining on campus or venturing around town in search of the best breakfast
burrito, fueling up for the day is a major part of the college experience. At UM and
around Missoula, there are plenty of options to fill your plate.
The College Tour: The Food Scene
Supporting the Whole You
Supporting your academic journey means supporting all of you. Find the resources you
need to find well-being and keep your mind and body healthy.
'This is a place for everyone'
Salena Beaumont Hill, UM's director of the Inclusive Excellence for Student Success
office, says that her job can mean a lot of different things to many people.
At UM, we recognize that well-being is essential to our success as individuals and
as a university. By building a culture of well-being that is embedded into all aspects
of campus life, together we can thrive.
Explore career pathways, grow from enriching out-of-class experiences, set and embrace
professional goals and prepare for your desired career path through ElevateU, UM's
signature career readiness program.
The UM Food Pantry provides food and hygiene products to students and community members
in need. The Food Pantry can also help connect students with resources like SNAP benefits.
UM's Office for Disability Equity follows a simple formula: Identify the specific
needs of each student and then relentlessly remove any barrier standing in the way
of their success.
Spanning 156 acres and encompassing more than 60 buildings, there are several corners
of campus that will play an important role in your UM experience. Have a look at some
of the highlights here, then check out our Visit page to see our virtual tour and plan your personal visit to Missoula.
Student Central
The University Center is where UM students get things done. From picking out your
textbooks to mailing a package to getting your student ID to grabbing a burger to
... well, you get the idea.
UM's Mansfield Library is a hub of scholarly activity, with thousands of books, high-tech
recording studios, group and individual study spaces, IT support and friendly faces
at the checkout desk.
How many universities have a wild mountain as part of their main campus? For us, Mount
Sentinel is more than just a place to hike the M Trail. It’s rooted into the soul
of our community. And it’s our collective responsibility to sustain this resource
for future generations.
Encompassing 600 acres of grassland and forest, it is home to one of Montana’s most
popular hiking trails, Mount Sentinel often sees 1,000 visitors a day. Now, UM is
helping to preserve it for future generations.
A lodge for learning
The Payne Center Native American Center is home to UM's Native American Studies program
and American Indian Student Services. The building incorporates several design elements
that represent Native American culture and Montana’s Indigenous tribes.
UM Gaming Den is the campus epicenter for friendly competition, from its bank of billiard
tables to its gaming consoles and board games. And in the winter, we can hook you
up with a nice pair of ice skates.
There's a feeling at UM that can be hard to describe, but once you set foot on campus,
you'll get it. In fact, ask any Griz how they knew UM was right for them, the most
common answer you'll hear is: "It just felt right."
There is no place like Missoula
You will find it all here: A vibrant downtown with restaurants and retail, a world-class
public library, our own surf wave in the Clark Fork River, four distinct shopping
districts throughout town, top-notch concert venues, public art, open space and beautiful
views in every direction.
Every day at UM, students with visions for a better future are boldly pursuing public
service, activism and social justice. The result is a campus culture that sparks lives
of impact.
Attending UM is about more than coursework, class schedules and textbooks. UM students
are active throughout Missoula's vibrant community and can be found exploring all
corners of Montana.
The College Tour: Life as a Griz
Thriving in winter
Curious about what winter is like in Missoula, Montana? Check out a new post on the
UM blog to find our tips for surviving - and thriving - during the winter months.
WelcomeFeast brings students to the Oval for games and free lunch each fall.
If you like dogs, you're in luck. There's a dog every wherever you look in Missoula,
including this guy who attended a recent StressLess event during finals week.
Sharpening your skating skills and show us your moves on UM's ice rink.
Orientation karaoke has been known to get a little crazy.
Missoula's concert scene is fire, but our favorite shows involve students on the Oval.
They say the Foresters' Ball is a "swingin good time" and they aren't wrong. Head
to this annual party held in a replica western town built by forestry students to
to cut a rug, get married (or divorced), go to jail and flex your flannel.
First-year pharmacy students work to make a hard candy compound during a lab.
You'll know spring is near when students break out the slacklines.
It's definitely OK to take a quick nap while ice fishing.
Students in the School of Theatre and Dance rehearse for the American College Dance
Association (ACDA) Benefit Concert.
The University Center is a favorite spot to take in some greenery in the dead of winter.
The groomed cross-country ski trails at the UM Golf Course are a popular option in
winter.
It's tradition on campus to take class outside as soon as the weather warms up.
The Gallery of Visual Arts displays student artwork throughout the year.