← Back to State vs State

Idaho vs Minnesota: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Idaho may suit applicants who want a smaller pool of scholarships but a higher average award and higher maximum award. Minnesota may fit applicants who prefer a larger overall volume of opportunities, even if the average award is lower.

State vs State

State A

Idaho

State B

Minnesota

Quick comparison

MetricIdahoMinnesota
Active scholarships in catalog3947
Avg. award (where known)$3,625$2,915
Max indexed award$25,000$9,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

Idaho and Minnesota 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 award of $25,000. Minnesota shows 53 listed scholarship opportunities, with an average award of $2,743.94 and a maximum award of $9,000.

For applicants prioritizing volume, Minnesota offers more total opportunities than Idaho. For applicants prioritizing larger typical awards, Idaho has the stronger average award size and the higher top-end award. In Idaho, the strongest listed scholarship providers by count are Idaho Community Foundation and Idaho Golf Course Superintendents Association, each with 2 scholarships. In Minnesota, the strongest listed provider is the Minnesota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics with 4 scholarships, followed by several organizations with 2 scholarships each.

Overall, Idaho feels more favorable for students targeting fewer but potentially larger awards, while Minnesota feels broader and more opportunity-rich for students willing to search across a larger set of programs.

Top Scholarship Providers in Idaho

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Top Scholarship Providers in Minnesota

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Match workspace

Find scholarships that fit your profile

Find My Scholarships

Scholarship climate by state

Idaho

Idaho feels narrower but potentially more rewarding per win, with 41 scholarships, a $3,576.39 average award, and a $25,000 maximum award.

Minnesota

Minnesota feels broader and more competitive by volume, with 53 scholarships, a $2,743.94 average award, and a $9,000 maximum award.

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.

Minnesota

Median household income

$89,564

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,046

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

21.55/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$56,920

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 22.22 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

lower indicator band

ADI band

middle indicator band

SVI counties

87

ADI counties

87

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 87 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 87 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?
Minnesota has more listed scholarship opportunities, with 53 compared with Idaho's 41.
Which state has the higher average scholarship award?
Idaho has the higher average award size at $3,576.39, compared with Minnesota at $2,743.94.
Which state has the higher maximum scholarship award?
Idaho has the higher maximum listed award at $25,000, while Minnesota's maximum listed award is $9,000.
Who are the strongest scholarship providers in each state?
In Idaho, Idaho Community Foundation and Idaho Golf Course Superintendents Association lead the listed providers with 2 scholarships each. In Minnesota, Minnesota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics leads with 4 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 Minnesota.

Related scholarship articles

Related essay guides