← Back to State vs State

New Jersey vs Wisconsin: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? New Jersey offers a higher average award size and more diverse scholarship opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial financial support. Wisconsin, while slightly lower in average awards, still provides a solid range of options, particularly for those in specific fields.

State vs State

State A

New Jersey

State B

Wisconsin

Quick comparison

MetricNew JerseyWisconsin
Active scholarships in catalog7562
Avg. award (where known)$2,862$2,166
Max indexed award$10,000$12,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, New Jersey presents a robust scholarship climate with an average award size of $2,838.71 and a total of 62 grants available. The maximum award can reach up to $10,000, providing significant support for students. Notable scholarship providers include Bio-Rad Laboratories and the New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association.

Conversely, Wisconsin offers an average award size of $2,134.48, with 58 grants available and a maximum award of $12,000. Key scholarship sources include the National Dairy Shrine and the American Water Works Association-Wisconsin Section. While the average award is lower than New Jersey's, Wisconsin's maximum award is higher, which may benefit certain applicants.

Top Scholarship Providers in New Jersey

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Top Scholarship Providers in Wisconsin

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Match workspace

Find scholarships that fit your profile

Find My Scholarships

Scholarship climate by state

New Jersey

New Jersey's scholarship climate is characterized by a higher average award size and a variety of funding sources, making it attractive for applicants seeking significant financial aid.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin's scholarship climate, while offering a lower average award, features a higher maximum award potential, appealing to applicants in specific fields.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

New Jersey

Median household income

$102,215

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$2,128

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

26.69/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$58,570

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 16.85 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

21

ADI counties

21

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 21 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 21 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.

Wisconsin

Median household income

$76,621

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,061

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

21.45/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$50,270

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 26.16 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

72

ADI counties

72

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 72 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 72 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 New Jersey?
The average scholarship amount in New Jersey is $2,838.71.
How many scholarships are available in Wisconsin?
There are 58 scholarships available in Wisconsin.
Which state has a higher maximum scholarship award?
Wisconsin has a higher maximum scholarship award of $12,000 compared to New Jersey's $10,000.
What are some top scholarship providers in New Jersey?
Top scholarship providers in New Jersey include Bio-Rad Laboratories and the New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association.

Sources and official pages

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

More guides around this State vs State comparison

Internal reading paths around scholarship search, application strategy, and essay preparation for students comparing New Jersey and Wisconsin.

Related scholarship articles

Related essay guides