← Back to State vs State

Hawaii vs Massachusetts: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Hawaii offers a smaller average award size with fewer opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking niche scholarships. Massachusetts, with a higher volume of grants and larger average awards, is better for those looking for more substantial funding options.

State vs State

State A

Hawaii

State B

Massachusetts

Quick comparison

MetricHawaiiMassachusetts
Active scholarships in catalog38268
Avg. award (where known)$3,184$3,188
Max indexed award$20,000$100,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, the scholarship landscape in Hawaii and Massachusetts presents distinct opportunities for applicants. Hawaii boasts an average award size of approximately $2,894, with a total of 33 grants available. The top universities in Hawaii include AFCEA Hawaii and Wai'anae Hawaiian Civic Club, which offer specialized scholarships. In contrast, Massachusetts offers a more robust scholarship climate with 149 grants and an average award size of about $2,553. Notable institutions like Worcester State University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst lead in providing financial support to students.

Top Scholarship Providers in Hawaii

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Top Scholarship Providers in Massachusetts

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Match workspace

Find scholarships that fit your profile

Find My Scholarships

Scholarship climate by state

Hawaii

Hawaii's scholarship climate is characterized by fewer opportunities and smaller average awards, appealing to applicants seeking targeted funding.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts presents a more competitive scholarship environment with a higher volume of grants and larger awards, ideal for students looking for significant financial assistance.

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.

Massachusetts

Median household income

$103,563

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$2,161

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

29.13/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$63,590

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 26.85 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

14

ADI counties

14

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 14 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 14 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts offers a total of 149 scholarships.
Which university in Hawaii has the most scholarships?
AFCEA Hawaii has the highest number of scholarships available in Hawaii, with 9 grants.
What is the maximum scholarship amount in Massachusetts?
The maximum scholarship amount in Massachusetts can reach up to $40,000.

Sources and official pages

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

More guides around this State vs State comparison

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

Related scholarship articles

Related essay guides