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North Carolina vs Virginia: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Virginia offers a broader range of scholarship opportunities with a higher total grant count, making it suitable for applicants seeking diverse funding options. North Carolina, with slightly lower average awards, may appeal to those focused on specific local scholarships.

State vs State

State A

North Carolina

State B

Virginia

Quick comparison

MetricNorth CarolinaVirginia
Active scholarships in catalog88126
Avg. award (where known)$2,964$2,836
Max indexed award$10,000$20,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, North Carolina provides a total of 44 scholarships with an average award size of approximately $2,890. The maximum award available is $10,000. Key institutions in North Carolina include the Foundation For The Carolinas and the Chapel Hill Carrboro Public School Foundation, which collectively offer a significant number of grants.

Virginia, on the other hand, boasts a more extensive scholarship landscape with 91 grants available, averaging around $2,890 as well. The maximum award in Virginia reaches up to $20,000. Notable organizations such as the Southeast Virginia Community Foundation and the UVA Alumni Association contribute to this robust scholarship environment.

Top Scholarship Providers in North Carolina

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Virginia

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

North Carolina

North Carolina's scholarship climate is characterized by moderate average award sizes and a smaller number of total grants, appealing to applicants looking for specific local opportunities.

Virginia

Virginia's scholarship climate is more competitive with a higher total number of grants and larger maximum awards, making it attractive for a broader range of applicants.

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.

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 North Carolina?
The average scholarship amount in North Carolina is approximately $2,890.
How many scholarships are available in Virginia?
Virginia offers a total of 91 scholarships.
What is the maximum scholarship award in Virginia?
The maximum scholarship award in Virginia can reach up to $20,000.
Which organizations provide scholarships in North Carolina?
Key organizations include the Foundation For The Carolinas and the Chapel Hill Carrboro Public School Foundation.
Are there more scholarships available in North Carolina or Virginia?
Virginia has more scholarships available, with a total of 91 compared to North Carolina's 44.

Sources and official pages

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

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