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Maine vs Minnesota: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Maine offers a smaller average award size with a higher maximum potential, suitable for applicants seeking larger grants. Minnesota provides a higher average award amount but with a lower maximum, appealing to those looking for consistent funding.

State vs State

State A

Maine

State B

Minnesota

Quick comparison

MetricMaineMinnesota
Active scholarships in catalog6147
Avg. award (where known)$2,640$2,915
Max indexed award$20,000$9,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

Maine and Minnesota present distinct scholarship climates for applicants in 2026. Maine has a total of 50 scholarships available, with an average award size of $2,546 and a maximum award of $20,000. The top universities in Maine include the Finance Authority of Maine, which offers three grants, and several others with fewer opportunities.

In contrast, Minnesota has 36 scholarships with an average award size of $3,125 and a maximum of $9,000. The Minnesota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics leads with four grants, providing a more consistent funding opportunity for applicants.

Top Scholarship Providers in Maine

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Minnesota

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Maine

Maine's scholarship climate is characterized by a higher maximum award potential, though the average award size is lower than in Minnesota. This may attract applicants looking for substantial funding.

Minnesota

Minnesota offers a more stable average award amount, appealing to those who prefer consistent financial support rather than the possibility of larger, but less frequent, awards.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Maine

Median household income

$73,437

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,535

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

24.20/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$51,430

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 9.31 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

16

ADI counties

16

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 16 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 16 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.

Minnesota

Median household income

$89,564

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,046

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

21.55/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$56,920

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 22.22 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

87

ADI counties

87

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 87 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 87 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 Maine?
The average scholarship amount in Maine is $2,546.
What is the maximum scholarship award available in Minnesota?
The maximum scholarship award available in Minnesota is $9,000.
How many scholarships are available in Maine?
There are 50 scholarships available in Maine.
Which state has more scholarship opportunities?
Maine has more scholarship opportunities with a total of 50 compared to Minnesota's 36.

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 Maine and Minnesota.

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