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Massachusetts vs Pennsylvania: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Massachusetts offers a higher average award size and more opportunities compared to Pennsylvania, making it more suitable for applicants seeking substantial financial aid.

State vs State

State A

Massachusetts

State B

Pennsylvania

Quick comparison

MetricMassachusettsPennsylvania
Active scholarships in catalog268125
Avg. award (where known)$3,188$3,131
Max indexed award$100,000$40,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Massachusetts presents a robust scholarship climate with a total of 282 grants available, averaging approximately $3,525 per award. The maximum award can reach up to $100,000, making it an attractive option for applicants. The top universities in Massachusetts include Worcester State University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Framingham State University, each providing numerous scholarship opportunities.

Conversely, Pennsylvania has a total of 145 grants with an average award size of about $3,320. The maximum award in the state is capped at $40,000. Notable scholarship providers include the Philadelphia Foundation and the POISE Foundation, although the overall volume of opportunities is less than that found in Massachusetts.

Top Scholarship Providers in Massachusetts

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Pennsylvania

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Massachusetts

Massachusetts has a vibrant scholarship climate with a high number of grants and substantial award sizes, making it favorable for applicants.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania offers fewer opportunities and lower maximum awards, which may appeal to applicants seeking smaller, more manageable scholarships.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Massachusetts

Median household income

$103,563

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$2,161

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

29.13/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$63,590

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 26.85 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

lower indicator band

SVI counties

14

ADI counties

14

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 14 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 14 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.

Pennsylvania

Median household income

$78,689

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,133

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

22.17/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$49,690

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 27.55 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

67

ADI counties

67

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 67 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 67 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 Massachusetts?
The average scholarship amount in Massachusetts is approximately $3,525.
How many scholarships are available in Pennsylvania?
There are a total of 145 scholarships available in Pennsylvania.
Which state has higher maximum scholarship awards?
Massachusetts has a higher maximum scholarship award of $100,000 compared to Pennsylvania's $40,000.

Sources and official pages

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

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