← Back to State vs State

Arkansas vs Tennessee: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Tennessee offers a more robust scholarship climate with higher average awards and greater opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial financial support. Arkansas, while having fewer opportunities, may appeal to those looking for smaller, community-focused scholarships.

State vs State

State A

Arkansas

State B

Tennessee

Quick comparison

MetricArkansasTennessee
Active scholarships in catalog2940
Avg. award (where known)$2,248$4,959
Max indexed award$6,000$50,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, the scholarship landscape reveals significant differences between Arkansas and Tennessee. Arkansas offers a total of 33 grants with an average award size of $2,605. In contrast, Tennessee provides 47 grants with a higher average award of $4,338. The maximum scholarship amount in Arkansas is $15,000, while Tennessee boasts a maximum of $50,000, indicating a broader range of financial support available to students.

Top universities in Arkansas include the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association and the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council, while Tennessee features Playmakers Nashville and the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga among its leading scholarship providers. This analysis highlights the varying opportunities available to prospective students in both states.

Top Scholarship Providers in Arkansas

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Top Scholarship Providers in Tennessee

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Match workspace

Find scholarships that fit your profile

Find My Scholarships

Scholarship climate by state

Arkansas

Arkansas has a smaller scholarship pool with lower average awards, appealing to applicants seeking community-based support.

Tennessee

Tennessee presents a more competitive scholarship environment with higher average awards and a greater number of opportunities.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Arkansas

Median household income

$59,954

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$912

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

19.17/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$43,630

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 52.45 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

higher indicator band

ADI counties

75

County health data

75

  • ADI block-group data is available across 75 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.
  • County health public data is available for 75 counties; use it alongside cost, school, and scholarship details.

Tennessee

Median household income

$69,008

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,015

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

19.90/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$47,380

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 53.93 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

95

ADI counties

95

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 95 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 95 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 Arkansas?
The average scholarship amount in Arkansas is $2,605.
How many scholarships are available in Tennessee?
Tennessee offers a total of 47 scholarships.
What is the maximum scholarship amount in Tennessee?
The maximum scholarship amount in Tennessee is $50,000.
Which state has more scholarship opportunities?
Tennessee has more scholarship opportunities with 47 grants compared to Arkansas's 33 grants.

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 Arkansas and Tennessee.

Related scholarship articles

Related essay guides