Contact Information
General Contact
- School Code: 253700
- Phone: (406) 275-4931
- School Homepage
Admissions Office
Financial Aid Office
ACCEPTANCE RATE
56.49%FINANCIAL AID RATE
89%STUDENT TEACHER RATIO
17:1DEGREE OFFERED ONLINE
6FINANCIAL AID AWARD AVG.
$5,649Average Grants + Scholarship Aid Awarded to Undergraduate Students
Percent of Full-Time Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid
Percent of Students Paying In-State Tuition vs Out-of-State Tuition
School Map
Equine Studies Program
The equine studies program at The University of Montana – Western prepares students to care for horses and equipment, and give them the tools needed to train and manage horses and their riders. Classwork focuses on the horse, teaching the student how to ride and drive horses as well as instruction on health and safety. Program courses include: history of the horse, breeding, development and training, riding technique, track management and equipment maintenance and repair. Get more details below including other Montana colleges that offer equine studies program.
Learn more by requesting information now!

The University of Montana – Western
Also known as Western Montana College
58138 US Highway 93, Pablo, MT
History
The University of Montana – Western is located in Dillon, Montana. University of Montana Western was founded in 1894. Originally known as the Montana State Normal School, and later as Western Montana College, the name was changed to its current form when the school joined the University of Montana System.
Academics
UMW is the only public institution in the United States to offer Experience One model where a term is broken into four parts of 18 days each. Each part focuses on a single subject. This method has proved successful for UMW, whose students have shown above average results. UMW offers many four year degree programs in a variety of subjects.
Some programs are:
Admissions and Financial Aid
Students interested in enrolling at UMW must meet one of the following three requirements:
An ACT score of 22 or an SAT score of 1540
A cumulative GPA of 2.5
Rank in the top 50% of the graduating class
Students who meet one of the above requirements must then submit a completed application along with the fee, send a high school transcript (once high school is completed), complete a high school self report form, submit form showing immunizations and a transcript of either the ACT or SAT exam.
Students may receive financial aid. All students pursuing financial aid are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The school code for UMW should placed in the application. The code is 002537.
Athletics
The University of Montana West athletics teams, known as the Bulldogs, participate in the Frontier Conference, which is an affiliate National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Sport programs offered:
- Football
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Rodeo
- Equestrian
Students Enrolled in the Equine Studies Program
Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. Western Montana College has offered the following academic levels for students:
- Less Than One Year Certificate
- Less Than Two-Year Award
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
Students by Academic Level (2019)
Graduates | |
---|---|
Less Than One Year Certificate | 0 |
Less Than Two-Year Award | 2 |
Associate's Degree | 11 |
Bachelor's Degree | 16 |
Students by Gender (2019)
Graduates | |
---|---|
Male | 5 |
Female | 24 |
Students by Race (2019)
Graduates | |
---|---|
American Indian | 3 |
Asian | 1 |
White | 23 |
Non Resident Alien | 1 |
Unknown | 1 |
Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.
Career Options for Graduates
Students who have completed the Equine Studies program at The University of Montana – Western, have entered into some of these more popular career paths listed below:Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Description
Teach courses in the agricultural sciences. Includes teachers of agronomy, dairy sciences, fisheries management, horticultural sciences, poultry sciences, range management, and agricultural soil conservation. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Animal Trainers
Description
Train animals for riding, harness, security, performance, or obedience, or assisting persons with disabilities. Accustom animals to human voice and contact; and condition animals to respond to commands. Train animals according to prescribed standards for show or competition. May train animals to carry pack loads or work as part of pack team.
Career Outlook & Projections (
)
According to the BLS, animal trainers employment is expected to grow at a rate of 11.1% from 2014 to 2024
Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Admission Requirements & Details
The information regarding admissions below may provide a better idea of the candidates Western Montana College accepts. The details may include application requirements and recommendations, as well as any college credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- Dual Credits
- Life Experience Credits
- AP Course Credits
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To help support students, The University of Montana – Western may provide student services including:- Online course work available
- Night and weekend classes available
- Remedial instructional courses
- Academic counseling for students
- Employing students to lower education costs
- Assisting students to find work
Intercollegiate Athletics
The University of Montana – Western is a Member of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), with many of the sports belonging to the NAIA Division I classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Basketball (Frontier Conference)
- Track and Field (Frontier Conference)
- Football (Frontier Conference)
- Volleyball
- Rodeo