← Back to State vs State

Alaska vs South Dakota: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Alaska offers a more robust scholarship climate with higher average awards, making it suitable for applicants seeking significant financial support. South Dakota, while having fewer opportunities and lower average awards, may appeal to those looking for less competition.

State vs State

State A

Alaska

State B

South Dakota

Quick comparison

MetricAlaskaSouth Dakota
Active scholarships in catalog7319
Avg. award (where known)$3,706$2,133
Max indexed award$25,000$5,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Alaska presents a more favorable scholarship climate compared to South Dakota. With a total of 53 grants available, the average award size in Alaska is approximately $3,943, with a maximum award of $25,000. This makes Alaska an attractive option for students seeking substantial financial assistance. In contrast, South Dakota offers only 15 grants, with an average award size of about $2,179 and a maximum of $5,000. This disparity highlights the differences in financial aid availability between the two states.

Top universities in Alaska include The CIRI Foundation, which has 5 grants, and the Alaska Government Finance Officers Association with 3 grants. South Dakota's notable scholarship providers include the South Dakota High School Rodeo Association, offering 5 grants, and Sigma Tau Delta with 2 grants.

Top Scholarship Providers in Alaska

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Top Scholarship Providers in South Dakota

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Match workspace

Find scholarships that fit your profile

Find My Scholarships

Scholarship climate by state

Alaska

Alaska's scholarship climate is characterized by a higher volume of opportunities and larger average awards, making it ideal for applicants seeking significant financial support.

South Dakota

South Dakota's scholarship climate is less competitive but offers fewer opportunities and smaller average awards, which may suit applicants looking for less competition.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Alaska

Median household income

$89,683

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,467

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

25.25/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$61,000

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 61.68 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.

ADI band

middle indicator band

ADI counties

30

County health data

30

  • ADI block-group data is available across 30 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.
  • County health public data is available for 30 counties; use it alongside cost, school, and scholarship details.

South Dakota

Median household income

$71,969

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$979

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

20.55/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$47,080

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 33.95 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

66

ADI counties

66

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 66 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 66 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 Alaska?
The average scholarship amount in Alaska is approximately $3,943.
How many scholarships are available in South Dakota?
There are 15 scholarships available in South Dakota.
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship award?
Alaska has the highest maximum scholarship award of $25,000.
What is the average scholarship amount in South Dakota?
The average scholarship amount in South Dakota is about $2,179.

Sources and official pages

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

More guides around this State vs State comparison

Internal reading paths around scholarship search, application strategy, and essay preparation for students comparing Alaska and South Dakota.

Related scholarship articles

Related essay guides