UMW uses a third-party servicer, Inceptia, to assist you with all your loan questions and more. You can visit the Inceptia website at https://www.heroknowl.org/ for information concerning each stage you may be in with your loans—In School; In Between; or In Repayment.
There are guides that help you determine what amount of loans you should consider borrowing based on your anticipated income as well as a Loan Repayment guide.
Inceptia offers information on additional financial aid resources; has courses you can take to assist you in knowing your rights and responsibilities as a student loan borrower as well as blogs and general information concerning Personal Finance. Check this information out at Financial Avenue https://fa.financialavenue.org/.
Loans are another form of financial assistance available to students as well as the parents of students. Each type of loan has its own unique fees, interest rates and repayment terms. Loans are often a necessary part of funding college costs. Montana Western will determine the maximum amount you are eligible to receive but it is important that you borrow wisely and only the amount you truly need.
Students and parents should view the federal web site regularly for any changes as well as to view loan types and limits for each loan program.
If at any time you need assistance, you may also contact the Financial Aid Office at Montana Western at 406-683-7511.
The U.S. Department of Education is your lender and has the following loans available to students & parents:
UMW will award your eligibility at the time of processing your financial aid. If you want the funding, you must accept the funding on your DAWGS account and if a first-time borrower at Montana Western, complete the Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note.
Montana Western will award your eligibility at the time of processing your financial aid. If you want the funding, you must accept the funding on your DAWGS account and if a first time borrower at Montana Western, complete the Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note.
The student may qualify for an Additional Unsubsidized Loan if the parent applies and is denied the Parent Plus Loan. The denial must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office at Montana Western before additional funding may be awarded to the student.
UMW will award your eligibility at the time of processing your financial aid. If you & your parent want the funding, you must accept the funding on your DAWGS account and if a first time borrower at UMW, your parent must agree to a credit check (must be done yearly) and must complete the Master Promissory Note (parent can choose to do each year or can complete the multiple year note) which both can be done at https://studentaid.gov/plus-app/parent/landing and also complete our internal PLUS loan application available at Montana Western PLUS Direct Loan Application for Parents. (must be done yearly).
Parents should review both the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans and Private Education Loans (also called Alternative Loans) and determine the best option for them based on their credit and repayment options. Information about private loans can be found below.
Each year the Department of Education calculates the Cohort Default Rate for Colleges & Universities. You can search colleges & universities by several options like School Code; School Name; State and other options at this link: https://nsldsfap.ed.gov/cdr-searchable-database/school/search.
Below is the latest Official Cohort Default Rate Information for University of Montana Western:
School 3-Year Default Rate FY 2021, 2020, and 2019
OPEID: 002537
Name: University of Montana Western (The)
Address: 710 SOUTH ATLANTIC STREET DILLON, MT 597253598
Type: Bachelor’s Degree
Control: Public
Program: NONE
| Cohort Fiscal Year | Official Default Rate | Number of Borrowers in Default | Number of Borrowers in Repayment | Enrollment Figures | Percentage Calculation |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 341 | N/A | N/A |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 342 | 1,882 | 18.17% |
| 2019 | 3.1 | 11 | 352 | 1,791 | 19.65% |
ENROLLMENT NOTE: To provide context for the Cohort Default Rate (CDR) data, we include Enrollment Figures (students enrolled at any time during the year) and the corresponding Percentage Calculation (borrowers entering repayment divided by that enrollment figure). There is no direct relationship between the timing of when a borrower entered repayment and any particular enrollment year; we have chosen to use the academic year ending on the 30th of June before the beginning of the cohort year.
Cohort Default Rate (CDR) data is not displayed when Number of Borrowers in Repayment (number of borrowers entering repayment in cohort) includes 10 or few borrowers.
You can also view the College Scorecard website for additional information on colleges & universities at: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
Please feel free to contact the Financial Aid Office at University of Montana Western if you have any questions. You can reach us via email at [email protected]; or give us a call at 406-683-7511.
UMW uses a third party servicer, Heartland/ECSI, to assist us in repayment, deferments & forbearance approvals. You should mail these completed forms to: Heartland/ECSI; 3330 Healy Drive, Suite 105; Winston-Salem NC 27103. You can view your Perkins loan information at https://www.heartlandecsi.com/ as well as acquire additional documents. You can also call them at 1-800-334-8609. If at any time you need assistance, you may also contact the Financial Aid Office at Montana Western at 406-683-7511.
https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/teach
TEACH Grant Exit Counseling provides information about fulfilling your TEACH Grant service obligation and explains the terms and conditions that apply if your TEACH Grant is converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
If you fail to comply with the guidelines and polices of your TEACH Grant, it may convert to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan with accrued interest.
Qualifications at UM Western:
Contact the Financial Aid Office at 406-683-7511 with any questions.
We encourage students to periodically log into https://studentaid.gov/h/manage-loans to view their financial aid history. This federal site should show you all aid received at any college & will show you the status of your student loans.
You can Compare all of the federal student loan programs here.
Exit Counseling provides important information to prepare you to repay your student loan(s). If you have received a Subsidized, Unsubsidized, Perkins, Teach Grant or PLUS loan, you must complete exit counseling each time you:
You can go to https://studentaid.gov/exit-counseling/ to complete the required exit counseling for any of your Direct Loans (Perkins exit counseling will be mailed to you by UMW).
Private Education Loans, also known as Alternative Education Loans, help bridge the gap between the actual cost of your education and the limited amount the government allows students to borrow in its programs. Private loans are offered by private lenders and there are no federal forms to complete.
Many students/parents take out private education loans in order to finance their education. With that, it’s best to get as much information as possible before you begin the process.
If at any time you need assistance, you may also contact the Financial Aid Office at Montana Western at 406-683-7511 or via email at [email protected].
