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Michigan vs Montana: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Michigan appears better suited to applicants who want a larger overall pool of scholarship opportunities and a higher average award size. Montana may fit applicants who are comfortable with a smaller opportunity set but want access to a higher listed maximum award.

State vs State

State A

Michigan

State B

Montana

Quick comparison

MetricMichiganMontana
Active scholarships in catalog3733
Avg. award (where known)$3,607$2,639
Max indexed award$15,000$25,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

Michigan and Montana present different scholarship climates for applicants in 2026. Based on the available data, Michigan shows a larger scholarship opportunity volume with 46 grants, compared with 38 in Montana. Michigan also posts a higher average award size at 3,414.77, while Montana's average award size is 2527.2727272727275. However, Montana has the higher maximum listed award at 25000, versus 15000 in Michigan.

For applicants evaluating where the scholarship market feels deeper, Michigan looks broader and somewhat stronger on typical award value. Its most active scholarship organizations in the dataset include American Society of Civil Engineers-Michigan Section, Michigan Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, and Woman's Life Insurance Society, each with 2 grants. In Montana, the strongest listed organization is the Montana Coaches Association with 3 grants, followed by Montana Federation of Garden Clubs and Society of Petroleum Engineers-Billings Section with 2 grants each.

In practical terms, applicants who prioritize more total opportunities and a stronger average award may lean toward Michigan. Applicants who are targeting standout high-ceiling awards may still find Montana appealing, even though the overall volume and average award are lower in the available data.

Top Scholarship Providers in Michigan

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

Michigan

Michigan feels broader and more active for applicants, with more total scholarships and a higher average award size in the available data.

Montana

Montana feels more selective and smaller in overall volume, but it may appeal to applicants looking for a higher maximum award opportunity.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Michigan

Median household income

$72,324

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,094

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

21.46/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$49,270

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 39.45 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.

CDC SVI band

middle indicator band

ADI band

middle indicator band

SVI counties

83

ADI counties

83

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 83 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 83 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

Which state has more scholarship opportunities in 2026?
Michigan has more listed scholarship opportunities in the dataset, with 46 grants compared with 38 in Montana.
Which state has the higher average scholarship award?
Michigan has the higher average award size at 3414.7727272727275, while Montana's average is 2527.2727272727275.
Which state has the higher maximum listed scholarship award?
Montana has the higher maximum listed award at 25000, compared with 15000 in Michigan.
Who are the strongest scholarship providers in each state?
In Michigan, the most active listed providers are American Society of Civil Engineers-Michigan Section, Michigan Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, and Woman's Life Insurance Society, each with 2 grants. In Montana, Montana Coaches Association leads with 3 grants, followed by Montana Federation of Garden Clubs and Society of Petroleum Engineers-Billings Section with 2 grants each.

Sources and official pages

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

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