Grizzly Promise

Grizzly Promise logo

The Grizzly Promise places college within financial reach and reflects UM’s commitment to an accessible and affordable education for all. 

If you’re from a family with an income of $50,000 or less, UM is dedicated to making sure your tuition is covered so you can attend University of Montana tuition-free.

The Grizzly Promise funds up to four years, or eight semesters, of UM tuition and fees. The financial assistance covering your tuition will be made up of a combination of scholarships, grants, waivers, and other institutional aid.

Video: Investing in Montana's Future: The Grizzly Promise Scholarship

*Qualifications and Eligibility

  • Be eligible for in-state tuition, as determined by the State of Montana BOR Policy: 940.1 
  • Demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA (Families who have incomes of $50,000 or less are typically eligible for the Promise)
  • Register for 12 credits per semester
  • Grizzly Promise funds only apply to students who are taking classes on-campus (i.e. not online-only students). 
  • Traditional First-time, entering resident freshman seeking their first bachelor's degree.
    • You are considered an incoming traditional freshman if you meet one of the following criteria:
      • currently enrolled in high school;
      • have graduated from high school but have not attempted 12 or more college-level semester credits;
      • you are concurrently enrolled in high school and a college/university (e.g. Running Start or Dual Enrollment Program);
      • Traditional student applicants are those who enter college within three years of high school graduation or within three years from when they would have graduated from high school.

How to Apply

  1. Apply for admission to the University of Montana as a four-year degree-seeking student. This does not include Missoula College. 
  2. Complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA, using UM’s code: 002536. (Review UM’s Top Five Tips For Filling out the FAFSA).

Renewability Criteria

Recipients of Grizzly Promise must maintain a cumulative University of Montana GPA of 2.5 and maintain 12 semester credit hours each semester, every year. The Grizzly Promise is renewable for up to eight semesters (four academic years), or until the recipient attains a bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first. Recipients must complete the FAFSA every year.

The Grizzly Promise is a last-dollar program, which means UM will use multiple sources of aid to meet this promise starting first with any available federal and state funds, and filling any remaining gap with UM grants, tuition waivers and/or scholarship programs. If you receive additional university aid (including private donor scholarships) or non-UM funded aid (such as external agency scholarships or waivers), those funds will be applied first, and Grizzly Promise will make up the difference. 

Grizzly Promise amounts are limited to tuition and mandatory fees. Additional grants and scholarship funds may be available to help with the other costs of education.

Questions?

Financial Aid Office 

406-243-5373 

finaid@umontana.edu 

Interested in Supporting this Program?

Generous alumni and friends of the University give to the UM Foundation to support scholarships that are included in Grizzly Promise financial aid packages. If you would like to help UM students by making a charitable gift to support scholarships and to ensure the Grizzly Promise continues to grow its impact, please contact Assistant Director of Development Noah Durnell at noah.durnell@supportum.org or 406-243-2567.