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North Carolina vs Rhode Island: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? North Carolina offers a diverse range of scholarships with a lower average award, while Rhode Island provides slightly higher average awards but fewer opportunities. Applicants should consider their financial needs and the availability of scholarships in each state.

State vs State

State A

North Carolina

State B

Rhode Island

Quick comparison

MetricNorth CarolinaRhode Island
Active scholarships in catalog8847
Avg. award (where known)$2,964$3,318
Max indexed award$10,000$17,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, North Carolina presents a total of 44 scholarships with an average award size of approximately $2,890. The maximum award available is $10,000. Notable scholarship providers include the Foundation For The Carolinas and the Chapel Hill Carrboro Public School Foundation.

Conversely, Rhode Island has 37 scholarships available, with a higher average award size of about $3,227, and a maximum award of $17,000. Key scholarship sources in Rhode Island include the Rhode Island Foundation and the Association of the United States Army-Rhode Island Chapter.

Top Scholarship Providers in North Carolina

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Rhode Island

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

North Carolina

North Carolina's scholarship climate features a wide variety of opportunities but lower average award amounts, making it suitable for applicants seeking multiple smaller awards.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island's scholarship climate offers fewer opportunities but higher average awards, appealing to applicants who may prioritize larger funding amounts.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

North Carolina

Median household income

$71,866

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,102

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

20.80/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$47,970

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 33.83 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

100

ADI counties

100

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 100 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 100 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.

Rhode Island

Median household income

$86,394

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,873

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

26.01/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$56,780

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 17.45 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

5

ADI counties

5

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 5 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 5 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 North Carolina?
The average scholarship amount in North Carolina is approximately $2,890.
How many scholarships are available in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island offers a total of 37 scholarships.
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship amount?
Rhode Island has the highest maximum scholarship amount at $17,000.

Sources and official pages

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

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