Iowa vs Kansas: Scholarship Climate 2026
Which climate fits best? Iowa may suit applicants who prioritize a slightly higher average scholarship amount, while Kansas may fit students who want a larger overall pool of listed opportunities. In both states, applicants should target the organizations with the highest grant counts first and confirm eligibility through official aid resources.
State A
Iowa
State B
Kansas
Quick comparison
| Metric | Iowa | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Active scholarships in catalog | 39 | 45 |
| Avg. award (where known) | $2,305 | $1,802 |
| Max indexed award | $11,000 | $9,000 |
Financial Aid Overview for 2026
Iowa and Kansas both offer meaningful scholarship opportunities for applicants, but the climate differs in emphasis. Iowa shows 39 listed grants with an average award amount of 2,304.69 and a maximum listed award of 11000. Kansas shows 48 listed grants with an average award amount of 2,129.19 and a maximum listed award of 10000.
For students comparing volume, Kansas appears broader, with more total listed scholarship opportunities than Iowa. For students comparing typical award size, Iowa holds a modest edge on average award amount. That makes Iowa feel somewhat more selective but potentially stronger on per-award value, while Kansas feels more expansive for students who want to apply across a wider set of options.
Among the strongest organizations by listed grant count, Iowa is led by Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Iowa Girls' Coaches Association, and Mary Greeley Medical Center, each with 2 grants. Kansas is led by Kansas Livestock Association with 5 grants, followed by Order of the Eastern Star-Grand Chapter of Kansas with 4, and both Johnson County Community College and Kansas Board of Regents with 3 each. Applicants should use these higher-volume organizations as starting points, then verify deadlines, eligibility, and renewal terms through official financial aid channels.
Top Scholarship Providers in Iowa
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 2 grants
- 2 grants
- 2 grants
- 1 grant
- 1 grant
Top Scholarship Providers in Kansas
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 5 grants
- 4 grants
- 3 grants
- 3 grants
- 2 grants
Match workspace
Find scholarships that fit your profile
Scholarship climate by state
Iowa
Iowa feels moderately sized and value-conscious for applicants: fewer total listed scholarships than Kansas, but a slightly higher average award amount and a higher maximum listed award.
Kansas
Kansas feels broader and more application-friendly by volume: more listed scholarships overall, though the average award amount is slightly lower than Iowa.
Public reference data
Cost of living & wages
State-level affordability context to complement scholarship climate above - not ScholarshipTop grant totals.
Visual comparison
Median household income
Census ACSFair market rent (2BR)
HUD monthly estimateLiving wage
Single adult, MIT modelBLS median wage
State occupational estimateIowa
Median household income
$74,077
Census ACS
Fair market rent (2BR)
$967
HUD monthly estimate
Living wage
20.97/hr
Single adult, MIT model
BLS median wage
$48,540
State occupational estimate
Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 23.88 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
higher indicator band
SVI counties
99
ADI counties
99
- CDC SVI county data is available for 99 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
- ADI block-group data is available across 99 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.
Kansas
Median household income
$74,984
Census ACS
Fair market rent (2BR)
$914
HUD monthly estimate
Living wage
20.85/hr
Single adult, MIT model
BLS median wage
$48,010
State occupational estimate
Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 37.24 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
higher indicator band
SVI counties
105
ADI counties
105
- CDC SVI county data is available for 105 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
- ADI block-group data is available across 105 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?
Which state has the higher average scholarship amount?
Which state has the higher maximum listed scholarship award?
Who are the strongest scholarship providers to check first?
Sources and official pages
Official and high-authority pages used to support this State vs State comparison.
- Federal Student Aid (U.S. Department of Education) - government reference
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) - government reference
- NCES College Navigator - government reference
- Iowa and Kansas scholarship search reference - high-authority reference
More guides around this State vs State comparison
Internal reading paths around scholarship search, application strategy, and essay preparation for students comparing Iowa and Kansas.
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