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Florida vs South Dakota: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Florida offers a larger volume of scholarship opportunities compared to South Dakota, making it more suitable for applicants seeking diverse funding options. South Dakota, while having fewer opportunities, provides a higher average award size.

State vs State

State A

Florida

State B

South Dakota

Quick comparison

MetricFloridaSouth Dakota
Active scholarships in catalog96119
Avg. award (where known)$1,880$2,133
Max indexed award$34,345$5,000

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. The maximum award can reach up to $34,345. Notable institutions like Eastern Florida State College and the University of North Florida lead in grant distribution, providing significant support to students.

In contrast, South Dakota offers a more limited scholarship environment with only 15 grants available, averaging $2,178.57. The maximum award in this state is capped at $5,000. Although the number of scholarships is lower, the average award size is comparatively higher than Florida's, which may appeal to certain applicants.

Top Scholarship Providers in Florida

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in South Dakota

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Florida

Florida's scholarship climate is vibrant with numerous opportunities and a wide range of award sizes, making it ideal for students seeking diverse funding.

South Dakota

South Dakota's scholarship climate is more restricted, but it offers higher average awards, which may benefit applicants who qualify for fewer, larger scholarships.

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.

South Dakota

Median household income

$71,969

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$979

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

20.55/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$47,080

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 33.95 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

66

ADI counties

66

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 66 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 66 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 $1,857.59.
How many scholarship grants are available in South Dakota?
There are 15 scholarship grants available in South Dakota.
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship award?
Florida has the highest maximum scholarship award at $34,345.
What are the top universities for scholarships in Florida?
The top universities for scholarships in Florida include Eastern Florida State College and the University of North Florida.

Sources and official pages

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

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