← Back to State vs State

Arkansas vs Montana: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Arkansas offers a slightly higher average award size, making it more suitable for applicants seeking moderate funding. Montana has a broader range of maximum awards, appealing to those aiming for larger scholarships.

State vs State

State A

Arkansas

State B

Montana

Quick comparison

MetricArkansasMontana
Active scholarships in catalog2933
Avg. award (where known)$2,248$2,639
Max indexed award$6,000$25,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Arkansas presents a total of 33 scholarships with an average award size of approximately $2,605. The maximum award available is $15,000. Notable scholarship providers include the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association and the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council.

Montana, on the other hand, has 38 scholarships available, with an average award size of around $2,527 and a maximum award of $25,000. Key scholarship organizations include the Montana Coaches Association and the Montana Federation of Garden Clubs.

Final verdict explanation

ScholarshipTop publishes this supplemental “Final verdict explanation” whenever the primary matchup body for 2026 skews thinner than editorial depth standards. The comparison table summarizes about 29 scholarships indexed today for listings commonly associated with Arkansas alongside about 33 scholarships indexed today for listings commonly associated with Montana using the same ingestion window, so deltas highlight catalog-wide signals rather than courthouse-grade guarantees. Residents, transfers, and commuter students weighing Arkansas campuses against Montana footprints should corroborate every figure with authoritative financial aid disclosures, state higher-ed portals, endowed scholarship riders, reciprocal tuition agreements, Honors supplements, or graduation timelines before staking savings plans.

After reviewing the matchup metrics above, continue with Matches-style browsing, internationally inclusive corridors when visas matter, streamlined application corridors when time is scarce, followed by essay hubs and evergreen resource articles covering drafting workflows, budgeting, appeals, parental contribution conversations, and scholarship renewals tied to academic performance. ScholarshipTop provides these cues as scaffolding; students still validate final award letters directly with campuses and adjust strategy whenever policies evolve during 2026 and afterward.

Top Scholarship Providers in Arkansas

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Top Scholarship Providers in Montana

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Match workspace

Find scholarships that fit your profile

Find My Scholarships

Scholarship climate by state

Arkansas

The scholarship climate in Arkansas is characterized by moderate average awards and a focus on community-based organizations, making it accessible for local applicants.

Montana

Montana's scholarship climate offers a wider range of maximum awards, appealing to applicants seeking substantial funding, with a diverse array of scholarship sources.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

State-level affordability context to complement scholarship climate above - not ScholarshipTop grant totals.

Visual comparison

Arkansas

Median household income

$59,954

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$912

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

19.17/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$43,630

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 52.45 per 100k population. Public safety context is based on aggregate state-level public data - not a safety rating.

Public planning context

Community indicators vary by county and are included only as public planning context. Use this alongside scholarship amount, school cost, and living expenses - not as an eligibility rule.

ADI band

higher indicator band

ADI counties

75

County health data

75

  • ADI block-group data is available across 75 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.
  • County health public data is available for 75 counties; use it alongside cost, school, and scholarship details.

Montana

Median household income

$69,565

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,129

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

23.91/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$48,740

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 36.77 per 100k population. Public safety context is based on aggregate state-level public data - not a safety rating.

Public planning context

Community indicators vary by county and are included only as public planning context. Use this alongside scholarship amount, school cost, and living expenses - not as an eligibility rule.

CDC SVI band

lower indicator band

ADI band

middle indicator band

SVI counties

56

ADI counties

56

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 56 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 56 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.

Sources: Census ACS, HUD FMR, MIT Living Wage, BLS OEWS, and public reference datasets where available. Rent figures may reflect metro or state averages.

Public safety context uses aggregate public data and is included only as planning context.

Reference only - not ScholarshipTop eligibility rules or guarantees.

Data availability varies by school, city, state, and source year.

FAQ

What is the average scholarship amount in Arkansas?
The average scholarship amount in Arkansas is approximately $2,605.
How many scholarships are available in Montana?
Montana offers a total of 38 scholarships.
What is the maximum scholarship award in Montana?
The maximum scholarship award in Montana is $25,000.
Which organizations provide scholarships in Arkansas?
Notable organizations include the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association and the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council.

Sources and official pages

Official and high-authority pages used to support this State vs State comparison.

More guides around this State vs State comparison

Internal reading paths around scholarship search, application strategy, and essay preparation for students comparing Arkansas and Montana.

Related scholarship articles

Related essay guides