Montana vs Virginia: Scholarship Climate 2026
Which climate fits best? Virginia offers a broader range of scholarships with higher total opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking more options. Montana, while having fewer opportunities, may appeal to those looking for specific niche scholarships.
State A
Montana
State B
Virginia
Quick comparison
| Metric | Montana | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Active scholarships in catalog | 33 | 125 |
| Avg. award (where known) | $2,639 | $2,840 |
| Max indexed award | $25,000 | $20,000 |
Financial Aid Overview for 2026
In 2026, the scholarship landscape presents distinct opportunities in Montana and Virginia. Montana has a total of 27 scholarships available, with an average award size of approximately $2,708 and a maximum award of $25,000. The top universities offering scholarships in Montana include the Montana Coaches Association and the Montana Federation of Garden Clubs. In contrast, Virginia boasts a significantly larger scholarship pool with 91 available grants, an average award size of around $2,890, and a maximum of $20,000. Notable scholarship providers in Virginia include the Southeast Virginia Community Foundation and the UVA Alumni Association.
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 Virginia
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 12 grants
- 8 grants
- 5 grants
- 5 grants
- 3 grants
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Scholarship climate by state
Montana
Montana's scholarship climate is characterized by a smaller number of grants, which may appeal to applicants looking for specific opportunities.
Virginia
Virginia's scholarship climate is more robust, offering a wider variety of options and higher total opportunities for 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.
Virginia
Median household income
$99,592
Census ACS
Fair market rent (2BR)
$1,079
HUD monthly estimate
Living wage
22.49/hr
Single adult, MIT model
BLS median wage
$55,690
State occupational estimate
Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 18.35 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
133
ADI counties
133
- CDC SVI county data is available for 133 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
- ADI block-group data is available across 133 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 Virginia?
What is the maximum scholarship award in Montana?
Which organization offers the most scholarships in Virginia?
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 Virginia 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 Virginia.
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