North Carolina vs South Dakota: Scholarship Climate 2026
Which climate fits best? North Carolina offers a more robust scholarship climate with higher average awards, making it suitable for applicants seeking larger funding. South Dakota may appeal to those looking for fewer but still valuable opportunities.
State A
North Carolina
State B
South Dakota
Quick comparison
| Metric | North Carolina | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Active scholarships in catalog | 88 | 19 |
| Avg. award (where known) | $2,964 | $2,133 |
| Max indexed award | $10,000 | $5,000 |
Financial Aid Overview for 2026
In 2026, North Carolina presents a more favorable scholarship landscape compared to South Dakota. With an average award size of $3,025.89 and a total of 104 grants available, North Carolina's scholarship opportunities are significantly more abundant. The state's top universities, such as Foundation For The Carolinas and Chapel Hill Carrboro Public School Foundation, are known for their strong support systems for students. In contrast, South Dakota offers an average award of $2,133.33 with only 19 grants available, making it a less competitive environment for scholarship seekers. However, institutions like the South Dakota High School Rodeo Association still provide valuable funding options.
Top Scholarship Providers in North Carolina
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 23 grants
- 12 grants
- 2 grants
- 2 grants
- 2 grants
Top Scholarship Providers in South Dakota
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 5 grants
- 2 grants
- 1 grant
- 1 grant
- 1 grant
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Scholarship climate by state
North Carolina
North Carolina has a vibrant scholarship climate with numerous opportunities and higher average award sizes, making it attractive for applicants.
South Dakota
South Dakota's scholarship climate is less competitive, with fewer grants and lower average awards, which may suit applicants looking for niche opportunities.
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 estimateNorth 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.
South Dakota
Median household income
$71,969
Census ACS
Fair market rent (2BR)
$979
HUD monthly estimate
Living wage
20.55/hr
Single adult, MIT model
BLS median wage
$47,080
State occupational estimate
Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 33.95 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
66
ADI counties
66
- CDC SVI county data is available for 66 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
- ADI block-group data is available across 66 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?
How many scholarships are available in South Dakota?
Which universities in North Carolina offer the most scholarships?
What is the maximum scholarship amount in South Dakota?
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
- North Carolina and South Dakota 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 North Carolina and South Dakota.
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