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Iowa vs Washington: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Washington suits applicants seeking a broader scholarship market with more listed opportunities and a higher average award size. Iowa may fit students who prefer a smaller landscape where targeted local and community-based options can still be worth pursuing.

State vs State

State A

Iowa

State B

Washington

Quick comparison

MetricIowaWashington
Active scholarships in catalog39191
Avg. award (where known)$2,305$3,652
Max indexed award$11,000$25,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

For 2026, Washington presents the larger scholarship market for applicants, with 206 listed grants compared with 39 in Iowa. Washington also shows a higher average award size at 3,585.04, while Iowa's average award size is 2304.6875. At the top end, Washington reaches a maximum listed award of 25000, versus 11000 in Iowa.

In Iowa, the strongest listed scholarship providers by grant count are Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Iowa Girls' Coaches Association, and Mary Greeley Medical Center, each with 2 grants. In Washington, the most active listed providers are Wenatchee Valley College Foundation with 27 grants, Community Foundation for Southwest Washington with 25, and Community Foundation of North Central Washington with 17.

For applicants comparing state climates, Iowa looks more limited in total volume and award scale, while Washington appears deeper and more varied. Students should still evaluate fit carefully, especially when local foundations or specialized organizations align with their background, field, or community ties.

Top Scholarship Providers in Iowa

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Washington

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Iowa

Iowa feels like a smaller, more targeted scholarship environment with fewer total opportunities and a lower average award size, making focused local searching especially important.

Washington

Washington feels like a broader, more active scholarship market with substantially more opportunities, a higher average award size, and several foundations offering multiple awards.

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.

Washington

Median household income

$97,733

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,418

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

23.29/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$62,990

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 27.40 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

lower indicator band

SVI counties

39

ADI counties

39

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 39 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 39 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?
Washington has more listed scholarship opportunities, with 206 grants compared with 39 in Iowa.
Which state has the higher average scholarship award?
Washington has the higher average listed award size at 3585.041958041958, while Iowa's average is 2304.6875.
What are the strongest listed scholarship providers in Iowa?
The top listed providers in Iowa by grant count are Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Iowa Girls' Coaches Association, and Mary Greeley Medical Center, each with 2 grants.
What are the strongest listed scholarship providers in Washington?
The top listed providers in Washington by grant count are Wenatchee Valley College Foundation with 27 grants, Community Foundation for Southwest Washington with 25, and Community Foundation of North Central Washington with 17.

Sources and official pages

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

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Internal reading paths around scholarship search, application strategy, and essay preparation for students comparing Iowa and Washington.

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