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Maryland vs Missouri: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Missouri offers a more robust scholarship climate with higher average awards, making it suitable for applicants seeking larger financial assistance. Maryland has a diverse range of scholarships but lower average amounts.

State vs State

State A

Maryland

State B

Missouri

Quick comparison

MetricMarylandMissouri
Active scholarships in catalog4950
Avg. award (where known)$2,922$4,767
Max indexed award$9,000$12,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, scholarship opportunities vary significantly between Maryland and Missouri. Maryland has a total of 36 grants available, with an average award size of approximately $2,907. In contrast, Missouri offers 42 grants with a higher average award of about $4,805. The maximum award in Maryland is $9,000, while Missouri's maximum reaches $12,000. The strongest scholarship providers in Maryland include the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation and the Jewish Social Service Agency of Metropolitan Washington. Missouri's top providers feature the American Angus Association and The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis.

Top Scholarship Providers in Maryland

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Missouri

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Maryland

Maryland's scholarship climate is characterized by a variety of grants but lower average award amounts, making it suitable for applicants seeking smaller, more numerous opportunities.

Missouri

Missouri presents a more favorable scholarship climate with higher average awards and a greater number of grants, appealing to those in need of substantial financial support.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Maryland

Median household income

$104,998

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,372

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

24.15/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$59,510

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 36.28 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

24

ADI counties

24

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 24 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 24 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.

Missouri

Median household income

$70,533

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$931

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

20.36/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$47,800

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 43.44 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

115

ADI counties

115

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 115 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 115 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 Maryland?
The average scholarship amount in Maryland is approximately $2,907.
How many scholarships are available in Missouri?
Missouri offers a total of 42 scholarships.
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship award?
Missouri has the highest maximum scholarship award at $12,000.
What are the top scholarship providers in Maryland?
Top scholarship providers in Maryland include the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation and the Jewish Social Service Agency of Metropolitan Washington.
Is there a significant difference in scholarship opportunities between the two states?
Yes, Missouri generally offers higher average awards and a greater number of scholarships compared to Maryland.

Sources and official pages

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

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