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Kentucky vs North Dakota: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Kentucky offers a larger number of scholarships but lower average awards, while North Dakota provides fewer opportunities with higher average amounts. Applicants should consider their funding needs and the competitiveness of each state's offerings.

State vs State

State A

Kentucky

State B

North Dakota

Quick comparison

MetricKentuckyNorth Dakota
Active scholarships in catalog5213
Avg. award (where known)$2,551$3,722
Max indexed award$10,000$15,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Kentucky presents a scholarship landscape characterized by 56 grants, with an average award size of approximately $2,447. The maximum award available is $10,000. Notable institutions providing scholarships include the Kentucky 4-H Foundation and the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, each offering multiple grants.

Conversely, North Dakota has a more limited scholarship offering, with only 13 grants available. However, the average award size is significantly higher at around $3,722, with a maximum award of $15,000. Key scholarship providers in North Dakota include AgCountry Farm Credit Services and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science-North Dakota.

Top Scholarship Providers in Kentucky

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in North Dakota

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Kentucky

Kentucky's scholarship climate is competitive with a variety of options but lower average awards, making it suitable for applicants seeking multiple small funding sources.

North Dakota

North Dakota's scholarship climate offers fewer opportunities but with higher average awards, appealing to applicants needing substantial funding.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Kentucky

Median household income

$63,680

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$927

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

19.60/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$46,920

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 20.29 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

higher indicator band

SVI counties

120

ADI counties

120

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 120 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 120 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.

North Dakota

Median household income

$76,193

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$963

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

21.00/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$52,480

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 24.02 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

53

ADI counties

53

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 53 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 53 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 Kentucky?
The average scholarship amount in Kentucky is approximately $2,447.
How many scholarships are available in North Dakota?
North Dakota offers a total of 13 scholarships.
Which state has the higher maximum scholarship award?
North Dakota has a higher maximum scholarship award of $15,000 compared to Kentucky's $10,000.
What are some top scholarship providers in Kentucky?
Top scholarship providers in Kentucky include the Kentucky 4-H Foundation and the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority.

Sources and official pages

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

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