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Florida vs Maryland: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Florida offers a larger volume of scholarship opportunities with a higher average award size, making it more suitable for applicants seeking substantial financial aid. Maryland, while having fewer opportunities, provides higher average awards, which may appeal to applicants looking for targeted support.

State vs State

State A

Florida

State B

Maryland

Quick comparison

MetricFloridaMaryland
Active scholarships in catalog96149
Avg. award (where known)$1,880$2,922
Max indexed award$34,345$9,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Florida presents a robust scholarship climate with a total of 495 grants available, averaging $1,857.59 per award, and a maximum award size of $34,345. The top universities in Florida include Eastern Florida State College, University of North Florida, and Florida Gateway College, which collectively account for a significant number of grants.

Conversely, Maryland offers a more limited scholarship landscape with only 36 grants, averaging $2,907.14 per award and a maximum of $9,000. Notable institutions in Maryland include the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation and the Jewish Social Service Agency of Metropolitan Washington, which provide targeted scholarships.

Top Scholarship Providers in Florida

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Maryland

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Florida

Florida's scholarship climate is characterized by a high volume of opportunities and substantial average awards, making it an attractive option for many applicants.

Maryland

Maryland's scholarship climate is more selective with fewer opportunities but offers higher average awards, appealing to those who qualify.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Florida

Median household income

$72,373

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,459

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

22.28/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$47,880

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 23.86 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

middle indicator band

SVI counties

67

ADI counties

67

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 67 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 67 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.

Maryland

Median household income

$104,998

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,372

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

24.15/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$59,510

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 36.28 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

24

ADI counties

24

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 24 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 24 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 Florida?
The average scholarship amount in Florida is approximately $1,857.59.
How many scholarships are available in Maryland?
Maryland has a total of 36 scholarships available.
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship award?
Florida has the highest maximum scholarship award of $34,345.
What are the top universities in Florida for scholarships?
The top universities in Florida include Eastern Florida State College, University of North Florida, and Florida Gateway College.

Sources and official pages

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

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