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Massachusetts vs Montana: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Massachusetts offers a more robust scholarship climate with higher average awards and more opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial funding. Montana, while having a slightly higher average award, has fewer opportunities available.

State vs State

State A

Massachusetts

State B

Montana

Quick comparison

MetricMassachusettsMontana
Active scholarships in catalog26833
Avg. award (where known)$3,188$2,639
Max indexed award$100,000$25,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Massachusetts presents a vibrant scholarship landscape with 149 grants available, averaging $2,552.85 per award, and a maximum award reaching $40,000. The top universities in the state, such as Worcester State University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, contribute significantly to the number of available grants. In contrast, Montana offers a more limited scholarship environment with only 27 grants, an average award size of $2,707.69, and a maximum of $25,000. The top opportunities in Montana are primarily provided by organizations rather than universities, indicating a different approach to funding education.

Top Scholarship Providers in Massachusetts

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Montana

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Massachusetts

Massachusetts has a competitive scholarship climate with numerous opportunities and higher average awards, ideal for applicants seeking substantial financial support.

Montana

Montana's scholarship climate is less competitive with fewer opportunities, but offers slightly higher average awards, appealing to those who may qualify for specific local scholarships.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Massachusetts

Median household income

$103,563

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$2,161

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

29.13/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$63,590

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 26.85 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

14

ADI counties

14

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 14 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 14 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 Massachusetts?
The average scholarship amount in Massachusetts is $2,552.85.
How many scholarships are available in Montana?
Montana has a total of 27 scholarships available.
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship award?
Massachusetts has the highest maximum scholarship award of $40,000.
What are the top universities in Massachusetts for scholarships?
The top universities in Massachusetts for scholarships include Worcester State University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Sources and official pages

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

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