← Back to State vs State

New York vs Pennsylvania: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? New York offers a higher average award size but fewer total grants compared to Pennsylvania, making it suitable for applicants seeking larger awards. Pennsylvania has a broader range of opportunities, ideal for those applying to multiple scholarships.

State vs State

State A

New York

State B

Pennsylvania

Quick comparison

MetricNew YorkPennsylvania
Active scholarships in catalog73125
Avg. award (where known)$3,982$3,131
Max indexed award$50,000$40,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, New York presents a scholarship landscape characterized by an average award size of $4,272.73, with a maximum award reaching $50,000 across 55 grants. The top universities in New York include the United States Tennis Association, which offers 8 grants, followed by the Katie DeCubellis Memorial Foundation and New York State Grange, each providing 3 grants.

Conversely, Pennsylvania boasts a more extensive scholarship offering with 101 grants available, an average award size of $3,000, and a maximum of $40,000. Leading scholarship providers in Pennsylvania include the Philadelphia Foundation with 22 grants, the POISE Foundation with 15, and the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials-Philadelphia Chapter with 13 grants.

Top Scholarship Providers in New York

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Top Scholarship Providers in Pennsylvania

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Match workspace

Get matched with scholarships in 2 minutes

Find My Scholarships

Scholarship climate by state

New York

New York's scholarship climate is competitive with fewer grants but higher average awards, appealing to those who qualify for larger funding.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania offers a more abundant scholarship pool, making it accessible for a wider range of applicants, especially those applying to multiple opportunities.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

New York

Median household income

$89,717

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,332

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

24.55/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$59,670

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 26.65 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

62

ADI counties

62

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 62 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 62 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 New York?
The average scholarship amount in New York is $4,272.73.
How many scholarships are available in Pennsylvania?
There are 101 scholarships available in Pennsylvania.
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship award?
New York has the highest maximum scholarship award at $50,000.
What are some top scholarship providers in Pennsylvania?
Top scholarship providers in Pennsylvania include the Philadelphia Foundation, POISE Foundation, and Conference of Minority Transportation Officials-Philadelphia Chapter.

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 York and Pennsylvania.

Related scholarship articles

Related essay guides