Montana State Grants
There are two state funded grant program in Montana: the Montana Higher Education Grant (MHEG)and the Montana Tuition Assistance Program (MTAP) – Baker Grant. Both of these grants are awarded through the financial aid office of the participating college.
To apply for either (or both) of these grants, the student must be accepted by the college’s admissions office and apply for financial aid by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA should list the Montana school that the student plans to attend. Funds for MHEG and MTAP are limited, so early FAFSA filing is encouraged.
Listed below are the colleges participating in the Montana’s state grant programs:
Units of the Montana University System
- Montana State University – Bozeman
- Montana State University – Billings
- Montana State University – Northern
- Great Falls College - Montana State University
- Gallatin College at Montana State University
- The University of Montana - Missoula
- The University of Montana – Western
- Montana Tech of the University of Montana
- Helena College - University of Montana
Community Colleges
- Dawson Community College in Glendive
- Miles Community College in Miles City
- Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell
Tribal Colleges
- Salish Kootenai College in Pablo
- Blackfeet Community College in Browning
- Chief Dull Knife College in Lame Deer
- Fort Belknap College in Harlem
- Fort Peck Community College in Poplar
- Little Big Horn College in Crow Agency
- Stone Child College in Box Elder
Montana Higher Education Grant (MHEG)
The Montana Higher Education Grant (MHEG) is the original state appropriated need based grant program in Montana. Along with the State Work Study program, MHEG first received funding during the 1975-1976 academic year under its original name, the Montana State Student Incentive Grant. The initial appropriation was $57,730; FY 2012 appropriation of MHEG was over $600,000 (including the Federal match).
Funds are awarded to Montana resident students who demonstrate exceptional financial need as determined by the FAFSA. During the 2010-2011 award year, over $600,000 was awarded to more than 1,000 students. Early FAFSA filing is encouraged, as funding for the MHEG program is limited.
MTAP Baker Grant
The Montana Tuition Assistance Program (MTAP) is the largest state appropriated need based grant program in Montana, receiving over $2 million in state funding for FY 2012. MTAP awards are known as Baker Grants in honor of Dr. Jeffrey D. Baker, Montana’s Commissioner of Higher Education from 1993-1996.
This grant is awarded, based on need, to Montana resident students who have earned at least 500 times the Federal hourly minimum wage. For the 2011-2012 award year a student must have earned at least $3,625 during the previous calendar year. Recipients must also have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC), calculated by the FAFSA, of less than 8,050; which is the 2011-2012 maximum Federal Pell Grant award (5,550) plus 2,500.
The purpose of this grant is to offset any Federal Pell Grant dollars the student may have lost due to earned wages. It is the belief of the Board of Regents and the financial aid community that students should be rewarded for working and earning money to pay for their college costs.
The 2010-2011 award year saw over $2 million awarded to over 2,400 students. Early FAFSA filing is encouraged, as funding for the MTAP Baker Grant program is limited.
Official Montana Board of Regents policy for the MTAP Program.