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Kentucky vs South Dakota: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Kentucky offers a higher average award size and more opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial financial aid. South Dakota, while having fewer opportunities, may appeal to those with specific interests aligned with its available scholarships.

State vs State

State A

Kentucky

State B

South Dakota

Quick comparison

MetricKentuckySouth Dakota
Active scholarships in catalog5219
Avg. award (where known)$2,551$2,133
Max indexed award$10,000$5,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Kentucky presents a more robust scholarship climate compared to South Dakota. With a total of 56 grants available, Kentucky offers an average award size of approximately $2,447, with a maximum award of $10,000. This indicates a strong support system for students seeking financial assistance. In contrast, South Dakota has a total of 19 grants, with an average award size of around $2,133 and a maximum of $5,000. This disparity highlights Kentucky's more favorable environment for scholarship applicants.

The top universities in Kentucky include the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, and The Race for Education, each offering multiple scholarships. South Dakota's notable scholarship providers include the South Dakota High School Rodeo Association and Sigma Tau Delta, though with fewer overall opportunities.

Top Scholarship Providers in Kentucky

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in South Dakota

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Kentucky

Kentucky's scholarship climate is characterized by a higher number of grants and larger average award sizes, providing a more favorable environment for applicants.

South Dakota

South Dakota's scholarship climate has fewer opportunities and smaller average awards, which may limit options for applicants.

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.

South Dakota

Median household income

$71,969

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$979

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

20.55/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$47,080

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 33.95 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

middle indicator band

SVI counties

66

ADI counties

66

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 66 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 66 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 South Dakota?
There are 19 scholarships available in South Dakota.
What is the maximum scholarship amount in Kentucky?
The maximum scholarship amount in Kentucky is $10,000.
Which state has more scholarship opportunities?
Kentucky has more scholarship opportunities with a total of 56 grants compared to South Dakota's 19.

Sources and official pages

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

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