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Massachusetts vs South Carolina: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Massachusetts offers a more robust scholarship climate with higher average awards and more opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking significant financial support. South Carolina, while having fewer opportunities and lower average awards, may appeal to applicants looking for specific niche scholarships.

State vs State

State A

Massachusetts

State B

South Carolina

Quick comparison

MetricMassachusettsSouth Carolina
Active scholarships in catalog26854
Avg. award (where known)$3,188$2,295
Max indexed award$100,000$18,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Massachusetts presents a strong scholarship landscape with a total of 149 grants available, averaging $2,552.85 per award, and a maximum award amount reaching $40,000. The top institutions in the state include Worcester State University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Framingham State University, which collectively offer a substantial number of scholarships.

Conversely, South Carolina has a more limited scholarship offering, with only 38 grants available, averaging $2,242.11 per award, and a maximum award amount of $18,000. Notable institutions such as Midlands Technical College lead in scholarship availability, although the overall volume remains lower than that of Massachusetts.

Top Scholarship Providers in Massachusetts

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in South Carolina

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Massachusetts

Massachusetts offers a vibrant scholarship climate with numerous opportunities and higher average awards, appealing to a broad range of applicants.

South Carolina

South Carolina's scholarship climate is more limited, with fewer opportunities and lower average awards, which may attract applicants seeking specific niche funding.

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.

South Carolina

Median household income

$67,568

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,070

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

20.92/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$46,490

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 42.50 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

higher indicator band

ADI band

middle indicator band

SVI counties

46

ADI counties

46

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 46 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 46 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 $2,552.85.
How many scholarships are available in South Carolina?
There are 38 scholarships available in South Carolina.
Which universities in Massachusetts offer the most scholarships?
Worcester State University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Framingham State University are the top universities offering scholarships in Massachusetts.
What is the maximum scholarship amount in South Carolina?
The maximum scholarship amount in South Carolina is $18,000.

Sources and official pages

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

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