Missouri vs Virginia: Scholarship Climate 2026
Which climate fits best? Missouri offers a higher average award size and a greater number of grants, making it more suitable for applicants seeking substantial financial aid. Virginia, while having a lower average award, provides a wider variety of scholarships.
State A
Missouri
State B
Virginia
Quick comparison
| Metric | Missouri | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Active scholarships in catalog | 50 | 126 |
| Avg. award (where known) | $4,767 | $2,836 |
| Max indexed award | $12,000 | $20,000 |
Financial Aid Overview for 2026
In 2026, Missouri presents a robust scholarship climate with an average award size of $4,804.88 and a total of 42 grants available, making it a strong contender for students seeking financial assistance. The top universities in Missouri include the American Angus Association and The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, which collectively offer a significant number of grants.
Conversely, Virginia's scholarship landscape features an average award size of $2,889.84, with a total of 91 grants available. While the average award is lower than that of Missouri, Virginia's larger number of grants may appeal to students looking for diverse funding opportunities. Notable institutions in Virginia include the Southeast Virginia Community Foundation and the UVA Alumni Association.
Top Scholarship Providers in Missouri
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 30 grants
- 16 grants
- 8 grants
- 3 grants
- 3 grants
Top Scholarship Providers in Virginia
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 12 grants
- 8 grants
- 5 grants
- 5 grants
- 3 grants
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Scholarship climate by state
Missouri
Missouri's scholarship climate is characterized by higher average awards and fewer grants, appealing to those seeking larger sums.
Virginia
Virginia offers a broader range of scholarships, albeit with lower average awards, attracting applicants looking for variety.
Public reference data
Cost of living & wages
State-level affordability context to complement scholarship climate above - not ScholarshipTop grant totals.
Visual comparison
Median household income
Census ACSFair market rent (2BR)
HUD monthly estimateLiving wage
Single adult, MIT modelBLS median wage
State occupational estimateMissouri
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.
Virginia
Median household income
$99,592
Census ACS
Fair market rent (2BR)
$1,079
HUD monthly estimate
Living wage
22.49/hr
Single adult, MIT model
BLS median wage
$55,690
State occupational estimate
Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 18.35 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
133
ADI counties
133
- CDC SVI county data is available for 133 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
- ADI block-group data is available across 133 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 Missouri?
How many scholarships are available in Virginia?
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship amount?
What are the top universities offering scholarships in Missouri?
Sources and official pages
Official and high-authority pages used to support this State vs State comparison.
- Federal Student Aid (U.S. Department of Education) - government reference
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) - government reference
- NCES College Navigator - government reference
- Missouri and Virginia scholarship search reference - high-authority reference
More guides around this State vs State comparison
Internal reading paths around scholarship search, application strategy, and essay preparation for students comparing Missouri and Virginia.
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