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Iowa vs New Mexico: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Iowa offers a higher average award size and a diverse range of scholarship opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial financial aid. New Mexico, while having a slightly lower average award, provides a good number of scholarships, appealing to those looking for various options.

State vs State

State A

Iowa

State B

New Mexico

Quick comparison

MetricIowaNew Mexico
Active scholarships in catalog3941
Avg. award (where known)$2,305$1,967
Max indexed award$11,000$5,500

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

Iowa and New Mexico present distinct scholarship climates for applicants in 2026. Iowa boasts an average scholarship award of $2,304.69, with a maximum award of $11,000 available across 39 grants. Notable scholarship providers include the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association.

In contrast, New Mexico offers an average award of $1,932.14, with a maximum of $5,500 from 42 grants. Key scholarship sources include the New Mexico Engineering Foundation and the Albuquerque Community Foundation. Both states provide valuable resources for students, but Iowa leads in terms of average award size.

Top Scholarship Providers in Iowa

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in New Mexico

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Iowa

Iowa's scholarship climate is characterized by a higher average award size and a variety of grants, making it attractive for students seeking significant financial support.

New Mexico

New Mexico offers a diverse range of scholarships, though with lower average awards, appealing to applicants looking for multiple funding options.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Iowa

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.

New Mexico

Median household income

$62,932

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,096

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

21.54/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$47,210

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 67.53 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

higher indicator band

ADI band

middle indicator band

SVI counties

33

ADI counties

33

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 33 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 33 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 Iowa?
The average scholarship amount in Iowa is $2,304.69.
How many scholarships are available in New Mexico?
New Mexico has a total of 42 scholarships available.
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship award?
Iowa has the highest maximum scholarship award at $11,000.
What are some top scholarship providers in Iowa?
Top scholarship providers in Iowa include the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association.
Where can I find more scholarship information?
You can find more scholarship information on the Federal Student Aid website and the College Scorecard.

Sources and official pages

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

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