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Idaho vs Maine: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Idaho may suit applicants who prefer a smaller scholarship pool with a higher average award and a higher listed maximum award. Maine may fit applicants who want a broader volume of opportunities, even if the average award is lower.

State vs State

State A

Idaho

State B

Maine

Quick comparison

MetricIdahoMaine
Active scholarships in catalog3961
Avg. award (where known)$3,625$2,640
Max indexed award$25,000$20,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

Idaho and Maine present different scholarship climates for applicants in 2026. Idaho shows 41 listed scholarship opportunities, with an average award of $3,576.39 and a maximum listed award of $25,000. Maine shows 66 listed scholarship opportunities, with an average award of $2,772.81 and a maximum listed award of $20,000.

For applicants comparing overall volume, Maine appears broader, offering more listed scholarships than Idaho. For applicants prioritizing award size, Idaho has the stronger average award and the higher maximum listed award in this dataset.

Among the strongest listed scholarship organizations in Idaho are Idaho Community Foundation and Idaho Golf Course Superintendents Association, each with 2 scholarships, followed by Community Council of Idaho, Epilepsy Foundation of Idaho, and Mountain Home Officers' Spouses' Club with 1 each. In Maine, the strongest listed organization is Finance Authority of Maine with 3 scholarships, followed by Associated Builders and Contractors of Maine and Maine Business and Professional Women with 2 each, then Appraisal Institute-Maine Chapter and Hebert-Lane Family with 1 each.

In practical terms, Idaho looks more selective by volume but potentially stronger per award, while Maine offers a wider field of opportunities that may reward applicants willing to apply broadly across multiple programs.

Top Scholarship Providers in Idaho

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Maine

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Idaho

Idaho feels narrower but potentially more rewarding per win, with fewer listed scholarships yet a higher average award and higher maximum award.

Maine

Maine feels broader and more application-driven, with more listed scholarships overall but a lower average award than Idaho.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Idaho

Median household income

$74,989

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,133

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

23.13/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$47,970

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 20.55 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

44

ADI counties

44

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 44 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 44 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.

Maine

Median household income

$73,437

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,535

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

24.20/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$51,430

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 9.31 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

16

ADI counties

16

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 16 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 16 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

Which state has more scholarship opportunities in 2026?
Maine has more listed scholarship opportunities in this dataset, with 66 compared with Idaho's 41.
Which state has the higher average scholarship award?
Idaho has the higher average listed award at $3,576.39, while Maine's average is $2,772.81.
Which state has the higher maximum listed scholarship award?
Idaho has the higher maximum listed award at $25,000, compared with Maine's $20,000.
Who are the strongest listed scholarship providers in each state?
In Idaho, Idaho Community Foundation and Idaho Golf Course Superintendents Association lead with 2 scholarships each. In Maine, Finance Authority of Maine leads with 3 scholarships.

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 Idaho and Maine.

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