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Florida vs Pennsylvania: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Florida offers a higher average award size and more opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial funding. Pennsylvania, while having a lower volume, provides competitive awards for specific demographics.

State vs State

State A

Florida

State B

Pennsylvania

Quick comparison

MetricFloridaPennsylvania
Active scholarships in catalog961125
Avg. award (where known)$1,880$3,131
Max indexed award$34,345$40,000

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 reaching $34,345. The top universities in Florida include Eastern Florida State College, University of North Florida, and Florida Gateway College, which collectively contribute to a diverse range of funding opportunities for students.

In contrast, Pennsylvania offers a more limited scholarship environment, with only 101 grants available but a higher average award size of $3,000 and a maximum of $40,000. Notable institutions such as the Philadelphia Foundation and POISE Foundation are key players in the state's scholarship landscape.

Top Scholarship Providers in Florida

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Pennsylvania

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 a diverse range of award sizes, making it attractive for applicants seeking financial assistance.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's scholarship landscape, while offering fewer opportunities, provides higher average awards, appealing to applicants focused on significant funding for specific programs.

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.

Pennsylvania

Median household income

$78,689

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,133

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

22.17/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$49,690

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 27.55 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

middle 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.

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?
$1,857.59
How many scholarships are available in Pennsylvania?
101 scholarships
Which Florida university has the most scholarships?
Eastern Florida State College with 236 grants
What is the maximum scholarship amount in Pennsylvania?
$40,000

Sources and official pages

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

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