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Kansas vs Wisconsin: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Wisconsin appears better suited to applicants who want a larger overall pool of scholarship opportunities and a slightly higher average award. Kansas may fit applicants who prefer a smaller market where key opportunities are concentrated among a handful of recurring providers.

State vs State

State A

Kansas

State B

Wisconsin

Quick comparison

MetricKansasWisconsin
Active scholarships in catalog4562
Avg. award (where known)$1,802$2,166
Max indexed award$9,000$12,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

For 2026, Wisconsin shows the broader scholarship market, with 68 listed grants compared with 48 in Kansas. Wisconsin also has a slightly higher average award size at $2,204.62, versus $2,129.19 in Kansas. The maximum listed award is higher in Wisconsin as well, at $12,000 compared with $10,000 in Kansas.

In Kansas, the strongest scholarship providers by count are Kansas Livestock Association with 5 grants, 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. In Wisconsin, National Dairy Shrine stands out with 10 grants, followed by American Water Works Association-Wisconsin Section with 3, while Brewers Community Foundation and Solid Waste Association of North America-Wisconsin Badger Chapter each list 2.

For applicants, the Kansas climate feels more compact and provider-concentrated, while Wisconsin feels deeper in total opportunity volume and marginally stronger on average award size. Students comparing the two should pay close attention to whether their academic interests or affiliations align with the most active scholarship organizations in each state.

Top Scholarship Providers in Kansas

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Wisconsin

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Kansas

Kansas feels like a smaller, more concentrated scholarship market: 48 listed grants, a $2,129.19 average award, and leading activity from Kansas Livestock Association, Order of the Eastern Star-Grand Chapter of Kansas, Johnson County Community College, and Kansas Board of Regents.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin feels like a broader and slightly stronger scholarship market: 68 listed grants, a $2,204.62 average award, and especially strong volume from National Dairy Shrine, with additional activity from the American Water Works Association-Wisconsin Section and other specialized providers.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

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.

Wisconsin

Median household income

$76,621

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,061

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

21.45/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$50,270

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 26.16 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

72

ADI counties

72

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 72 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 72 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?
Wisconsin has more listed scholarship opportunities, with 68 grants compared with 48 in Kansas.
Which state has the higher average scholarship award?
Wisconsin has the higher average listed award at $2,204.62, while Kansas averages $2,129.19.
Which state offers the higher maximum scholarship amount?
Wisconsin lists the higher maximum award at $12,000. Kansas lists a maximum of $10,000.
Who are the strongest scholarship providers in each state?
In Kansas, the most active providers by grant count are Kansas Livestock Association, Order of the Eastern Star-Grand Chapter of Kansas, Johnson County Community College, and Kansas Board of Regents. In Wisconsin, National Dairy Shrine is the clear leader, followed by the American Water Works Association-Wisconsin Section and several smaller specialized organizations.

Sources and official pages

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

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