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Colorado vs Utah: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Colorado offers a more robust scholarship climate with higher average awards, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial financial support. Utah, while having fewer opportunities, may appeal to those looking for smaller, more targeted scholarships.

State vs State

State A

Colorado

State B

Utah

Quick comparison

MetricColoradoUtah
Active scholarships in catalog7423
Avg. award (where known)$4,183$2,800
Max indexed award$64,000$9,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Colorado presents a more favorable scholarship climate for applicants compared to Utah. With a total of 62 grants available, Colorado boasts an average award size of approximately $4,321, significantly higher than Utah's average of about $2,971 across its 18 grants. The maximum award in Colorado reaches $64,000, while Utah's tops out at $9,000. This disparity indicates that Colorado may be more appealing for students seeking larger financial assistance.

Among the top universities in Colorado, the Morgan Community College Foundation leads with 32 grants, while Utah's most prolific provider, the American Water Works Association-Intermountain Section, offers only 2 grants. This suggests that Colorado's institutions are more active in supporting students through scholarships.

Top Scholarship Providers in Colorado

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Utah

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Colorado

Colorado has a vibrant scholarship climate with numerous opportunities and higher average awards, making it attractive for many applicants.

Utah

Utah's scholarship climate is less competitive, offering fewer opportunities and lower average awards, which may suit applicants looking for specific funding.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Colorado

Median household income

$94,510

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,321

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

23.86/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$59,800

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 41.18 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

lower indicator band

SVI counties

64

ADI counties

63

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 64 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 63 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.

Utah

Median household income

$92,837

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,283

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

23.81/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$50,110

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 20.55 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

lower indicator band

SVI counties

29

ADI counties

29

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 29 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 29 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 Colorado?
The average scholarship amount in Colorado is approximately $4,321.
How many scholarships are available in Utah?
Utah has a total of 18 scholarships available.
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship amount?
Colorado has the highest maximum scholarship amount at $64,000.
What is the top scholarship provider in Colorado?
The Morgan Community College Foundation is the top scholarship provider in Colorado with 32 grants.

Sources and official pages

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

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