Montana vs West Virginia: Scholarship Climate 2026
Which climate fits best? Montana offers a higher maximum award amount, making it suitable for applicants seeking larger scholarships, while West Virginia provides a more modest average award size but still presents numerous opportunities.
State A
Montana
State B
West Virginia
Quick comparison
| Metric | Montana | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Active scholarships in catalog | 33 | 25 |
| Avg. award (where known) | $2,639 | $2,486 |
| Max indexed award | $25,000 | $9,000 |
Financial Aid Overview for 2026
In 2026, Montana and West Virginia present distinct scholarship climates for applicants. Montana boasts an average award size of $2,527.27, with a maximum award amount reaching $25,000 across 38 grants. Notable institutions include the Montana Coaches Association and the Montana Federation of Garden Clubs, which provide multiple scholarships.
Conversely, West Virginia's average award size is slightly lower at $2,488.60, with a maximum award of $9,000 available from 29 grants. Key organizations such as the American Water Works Association-West Virginia Section and the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation contribute to the scholarship landscape.
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 West Virginia
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 2 grants
- 2 grants
- 1 grant
- 1 grant
- 1 grant
Match workspace
Find scholarships that fit your profile
Scholarship climate by state
Montana
Montana's scholarship climate is characterized by higher maximum awards and a larger number of grants, appealing to applicants aiming for substantial financial support.
West Virginia
West Virginia offers a lower maximum award but maintains a steady number of opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking consistent funding options.
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.
West Virginia
Median household income
$58,760
Census ACS
Fair market rent (2BR)
$929
HUD monthly estimate
Living wage
19.33/hr
Single adult, MIT model
BLS median wage
$45,300
State occupational estimate
Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 25.59 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
higher indicator band
SVI counties
55
ADI counties
55
- CDC SVI county data is available for 55 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
- ADI block-group data is available across 55 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 West Virginia?
What is the maximum scholarship amount in Montana?
Which organizations offer scholarships in West 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 West 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 West Virginia.
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