California vs Kansas: Scholarship Climate 2026
Which climate fits best? California offers a larger volume of scholarship opportunities and higher average awards, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial financial aid. Kansas, while having fewer opportunities and lower average awards, may appeal to those looking for less competitive environments.
State A
California
State B
Kansas
Quick comparison
| Metric | California | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Active scholarships in catalog | 374 | 45 |
| Avg. award (where known) | $2,809 | $1,802 |
| Max indexed award | $60,000 | $9,000 |
Financial Aid Overview for 2026
In 2026, California presents a robust scholarship climate with a total of 327 grants available, averaging around $2,791 per award, and a maximum award size of $60,000. The state's top universities, such as the Sonora Area Foundation, offer numerous funding opportunities, making it an attractive option for students seeking financial assistance.
In contrast, Kansas has a more modest offering with only 35 grants available, averaging approximately $1,802 per award and a maximum of $9,000. While the number of opportunities is limited, Kansas may provide a less competitive atmosphere for applicants, with institutions like the Kansas Livestock Association leading in grant availability.
Top Scholarship Providers in California
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 67 grants
- 16 grants
- 16 grants
- 16 grants
- 15 grants
Top Scholarship Providers in Kansas
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 5 grants
- 4 grants
- 3 grants
- 3 grants
- 2 grants
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Scholarship climate by state
California
California's scholarship climate is characterized by a high volume of opportunities and substantial award sizes, appealing to a wide range of applicants.
Kansas
Kansas offers a smaller pool of scholarships with lower 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
Median household income
Census ACSFair market rent (2BR)
HUD monthly estimateLiving wage
Single adult, MIT modelBLS median wage
State occupational estimateCalifornia
Median household income
$99,234
Census ACS
Fair market rent (2BR)
$1,975
HUD monthly estimate
Living wage
28.24/hr
Single adult, MIT model
BLS median wage
$58,240
State occupational estimate
Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 43.88 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
higher indicator band
ADI band
lower indicator band
SVI counties
45
ADI counties
56
- CDC SVI county data is available for 45 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.
Kansas
Median household income
$74,984
Census ACS
Fair market rent (2BR)
$914
HUD monthly estimate
Living wage
20.85/hr
Single adult, MIT model
BLS median wage
$48,010
State occupational estimate
Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 37.24 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
higher indicator band
SVI counties
105
ADI counties
105
- CDC SVI county data is available for 105 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
- ADI block-group data is available across 105 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 California?
How many scholarships are available in Kansas?
What is the maximum scholarship amount in California?
Which organization offers the most scholarships in Kansas?
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
- California and Kansas 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 California and Kansas.
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