Iowa vs North Carolina: Scholarship Climate 2026
Which climate fits best? North Carolina offers a higher average award size and more opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking larger financial support. Iowa, while having fewer opportunities, may appeal to those looking for specific local scholarships.
State A
Iowa
State B
North Carolina
Quick comparison
| Metric | Iowa | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Active scholarships in catalog | 39 | 88 |
| Avg. award (where known) | $2,305 | $2,964 |
| Max indexed award | $11,000 | $10,000 |
Financial Aid Overview for 2026
The scholarship climate in Iowa features a total of 29 grants with an average award size of approximately $2,205. The maximum award available is $11,000. Key institutions providing scholarships include the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association.
In contrast, North Carolina presents a more robust scholarship environment with 44 grants available and a higher average award size of about $2,890. The maximum award in this state is $10,000, with notable scholarship providers such as the Foundation For The Carolinas and the Chapel Hill Carrboro Public School Foundation.
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 North Carolina
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 23 grants
- 12 grants
- 2 grants
- 2 grants
- 2 grants
Match workspace
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Scholarship climate by state
Iowa
Iowa's scholarship climate is characterized by fewer opportunities and lower average awards, appealing to applicants focused on local scholarships.
North Carolina
North Carolina's scholarship climate is more favorable with a larger number of grants and higher average awards, attracting applicants seeking substantial financial support.
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.
North Carolina
Median household income
$71,866
Census ACS
Fair market rent (2BR)
$1,102
HUD monthly estimate
Living wage
20.80/hr
Single adult, MIT model
BLS median wage
$47,970
State occupational estimate
Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 33.83 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
100
ADI counties
100
- CDC SVI county data is available for 100 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
- ADI block-group data is available across 100 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?
How many scholarships are available in North Carolina?
Which state has a higher maximum scholarship award?
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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina.
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