Montana vs North Carolina: Scholarship Climate 2026
Which climate fits best? North Carolina offers a broader range of scholarships with a higher total count, making it suitable for applicants seeking more opportunities. Montana, while having a lower volume, may appeal to those looking for specific niche scholarships.
State A
Montana
State B
North Carolina
Quick comparison
| Metric | Montana | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Active scholarships in catalog | 33 | 88 |
| Avg. award (where known) | $2,639 | $2,964 |
| Max indexed award | $25,000 | $10,000 |
Financial Aid Overview for 2026
In 2026, Montana and North Carolina present distinct scholarship climates for applicants. Montana offers an average scholarship amount of approximately $2,708, with a total of 27 grants available. The top universities in Montana include the Montana Coaches Association, which provides 3 grants, and the Montana Federation of Garden Clubs, offering 2 grants.
In contrast, North Carolina boasts a higher average scholarship amount of about $2,890, with a total of 44 grants available. The Foundation For The Carolinas stands out as a major provider, offering 23 grants, followed by the Chapel Hill Carrboro Public School Foundation with 12 grants.
Top Scholarship Providers in Montana
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 3 grants
- 2 grants
- 2 grants
- 1 grant
- 1 grant
Top Scholarship Providers in North Carolina
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 23 grants
- 12 grants
- 2 grants
- 2 grants
- 2 grants
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Scholarship climate by state
Montana
Montana has a smaller scholarship pool with fewer opportunities, making it more competitive for niche awards.
North Carolina
North Carolina's scholarship climate is more robust, offering a greater number of awards and higher average amounts, appealing to a wider range of applicants.
Public reference data
Cost of living & wages
State-level affordability context to complement scholarship climate above - not ScholarshipTop grant totals.
Visual comparison
Median household income
Census ACSFair market rent (2BR)
HUD monthly estimateLiving wage
Single adult, MIT modelBLS median wage
State occupational estimateMontana
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.
North Carolina
Median household income
$71,866
Census ACS
Fair market rent (2BR)
$1,102
HUD monthly estimate
Living wage
20.80/hr
Single adult, MIT model
BLS median wage
$47,970
State occupational estimate
Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 33.83 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
higher indicator band
ADI band
middle indicator band
SVI counties
100
ADI counties
100
- CDC SVI county data is available for 100 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
- ADI block-group data is available across 100 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 Montana?
How many scholarships are available in North Carolina?
Which university offers the most scholarships in North Carolina?
What is the maximum scholarship amount in Montana?
Sources and official pages
Official and high-authority pages used to support this State vs State comparison.
- Federal Student Aid (U.S. Department of Education) - government reference
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) - government reference
- NCES College Navigator - government reference
- Montana and North Carolina scholarship search reference - high-authority reference
More guides around this State vs State comparison
Internal reading paths around scholarship search, application strategy, and essay preparation for students comparing Montana and North Carolina.
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