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Colorado vs Montana: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Colorado offers a more robust scholarship climate with higher average awards, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial financial support. Montana, while having fewer opportunities and lower average awards, may appeal to those looking for less competition.

State vs State

State A

Colorado

State B

Montana

Quick comparison

MetricColoradoMontana
Active scholarships in catalog7433
Avg. award (where known)$4,183$2,639
Max indexed award$64,000$25,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Colorado presents a favorable scholarship landscape with a total of 62 grants available, averaging $4,320.81 per award. The maximum award reaches up to $64,000, providing significant financial support for students. Key institutions like Morgan Community College Foundation lead in grant offerings.

Conversely, Montana offers a total of 27 grants, with an average award size of $2,707.69 and a maximum of $25,000. This state features organizations such as the Montana Coaches Association, although the overall funding opportunities are more limited compared to Colorado.

Top Scholarship Providers in Colorado

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Montana

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Colorado

Colorado's scholarship climate is characterized by a high volume of opportunities and substantial average award sizes, making it a competitive choice for applicants.

Montana

Montana's scholarship climate is less competitive with fewer opportunities and lower average awards, which may suit applicants seeking less crowded funding options.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Colorado

Median household income

$94,510

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,321

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

23.86/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$59,800

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 41.18 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

middle indicator band

ADI band

lower indicator band

SVI counties

64

ADI counties

63

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 64 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 63 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.

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 Colorado?
The average scholarship amount in Colorado is approximately $4,320.81.
How many scholarships are available in Montana?
Montana has a total of 27 scholarships available for applicants.
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship award?
Colorado has the highest maximum scholarship award of $64,000.
Are there many scholarships available in Montana?
No, Montana has fewer scholarships available compared to Colorado.

Sources and official pages

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

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