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Hawaii vs Maryland: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Hawaii offers a moderate scholarship climate with a lower average award size, making it suitable for applicants seeking smaller, more numerous opportunities. Maryland, with a slightly higher average award and maximum amount, may attract those looking for larger funding options.

State vs State

State A

Hawaii

State B

Maryland

Quick comparison

MetricHawaiiMaryland
Active scholarships in catalog3849
Avg. award (where known)$3,184$2,922
Max indexed award$20,000$9,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Hawaii presents 33 scholarship opportunities with an average award size of approximately $2,894, while Maryland offers 36 opportunities with an average award of around $2,907. The maximum scholarship amount in Hawaii is $5,000, compared to Maryland's $9,000, indicating a broader range of funding in Maryland.

The top universities in Hawaii include AFCEA Hawaii, with 9 grants, and Wai'anae Hawaiian Civic Club, with 5 grants. In Maryland, the leading institutions are the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation with 4 grants and the Jewish Social Service Agency of Metropolitan Washington with 3 grants. This suggests that applicants in Maryland may find more substantial individual scholarships, while Hawaii may offer more frequent smaller awards.

Top Scholarship Providers in Hawaii

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

Hawaii

Hawaii's scholarship climate is characterized by a lower average award size and fewer total opportunities, which may appeal to applicants seeking smaller, more accessible funding.

Maryland

Maryland's scholarship climate features a higher average award and maximum funding, making it more attractive for applicants looking for larger financial support.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Hawaii

Median household income

$98,864

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$2,433

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

31.43/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$56,320

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 22.35 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

5

ADI counties

4

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 5 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 4 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 Hawaii?
The average scholarship amount in Hawaii is approximately $2,894.
How many scholarships are available in Maryland?
Maryland offers a total of 36 scholarship opportunities.
Which state has a higher maximum scholarship amount?
Maryland has a higher maximum scholarship amount of $9,000 compared to Hawaii's $5,000.
What are the top universities offering scholarships in Hawaii?
Top universities in Hawaii include AFCEA Hawaii and Wai'anae Hawaiian Civic Club.

Sources and official pages

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

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Internal reading paths around scholarship search, application strategy, and essay preparation for students comparing Hawaii and Maryland.

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