← Back to State vs State

Kentucky vs Wisconsin: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Wisconsin offers a broader range of scholarships with higher maximum awards, making it suitable for applicants seeking larger financial support. Kentucky, while having a lower average award, may appeal to those looking for specific opportunities within its unique scholarship programs.

State vs State

State A

Kentucky

State B

Wisconsin

Quick comparison

MetricKentuckyWisconsin
Active scholarships in catalog5262
Avg. award (where known)$2,551$2,166
Max indexed award$10,000$12,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, the scholarship landscape reveals distinct differences between Kentucky and Wisconsin. Kentucky offers an average scholarship amount of approximately $2,131, with a maximum award of $5,300 across 39 grants. The top universities providing scholarships include the Kentucky 4-H Foundation and the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, each with multiple grant offerings.

Conversely, Wisconsin presents a slightly higher average award of around $2,134, with a significantly larger maximum award of $12,000 available through 58 grants. Notable scholarship providers in Wisconsin include the National Dairy Shrine, which leads with 10 grants, showcasing a robust support system for applicants.

Top Scholarship Providers in Kentucky

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Top Scholarship Providers in Wisconsin

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Match workspace

Find scholarships that fit your profile

Find My Scholarships

Scholarship climate by state

Kentucky

Kentucky's scholarship climate is characterized by a smaller number of grants with lower average and maximum award amounts, appealing to applicants focused on specific local opportunities.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin's scholarship environment is more favorable for applicants seeking higher financial support, with a larger number of grants and higher maximum awards available.

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.

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

What is the average scholarship amount in Kentucky?
The average scholarship amount in Kentucky is approximately $2,131.
How many scholarships are available in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin offers a total of 58 scholarships.
What is the maximum scholarship award in Wisconsin?
The maximum scholarship award in Wisconsin is $12,000.
Which state has more scholarship opportunities?
Wisconsin has more scholarship opportunities with a total of 58 grants compared to Kentucky's 39.

Sources and official pages

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

More guides around this State vs State comparison

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

Related scholarship articles

Related essay guides