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Minnesota vs Montana: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Minnesota offers a higher average award size and more opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial financial aid. Montana, while having fewer opportunities, features higher maximum awards, appealing to those who may qualify for larger grants.

State vs State

State A

Minnesota

State B

Montana

Quick comparison

MetricMinnesotaMontana
Active scholarships in catalog4733
Avg. award (where known)$2,915$2,639
Max indexed award$9,000$25,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Minnesota presents a robust scholarship climate with 53 grants available, averaging $2,743.94 per award. The top universities include the Minnesota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees-Minnesota Council 5, among others. Conversely, Montana offers 38 grants with an average award size of $2,527.27, and notable institutions such as the Montana Coaches Association and the Montana Federation of Garden Clubs. Applicants should consider both the number of opportunities and the average award sizes when deciding where to apply.

Top Scholarship Providers in Minnesota

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

Minnesota

Minnesota's scholarship climate is characterized by a higher number of available grants and a competitive average award size, making it favorable for applicants seeking financial assistance.

Montana

Montana's scholarship landscape, while offering fewer opportunities, includes the potential for larger maximum awards, which may attract applicants with specific qualifications.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Minnesota

Median household income

$89,564

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,046

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

21.55/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$56,920

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 22.22 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

87

ADI counties

87

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 87 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 87 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 Minnesota?
The average scholarship amount in Minnesota is $2,743.94.
How many scholarships are available in Montana?
Montana has 38 scholarships available.
Which state has higher maximum scholarship awards?
Montana has a higher maximum scholarship award of $25,000 compared to Minnesota's $9,000.

Sources and official pages

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

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

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