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North Carolina vs Washington: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? North Carolina offers a moderate average award with fewer opportunities, while Washington has a higher average award and more grants available, making it suitable for applicants seeking larger financial support.

State vs State

State A

North Carolina

State B

Washington

Quick comparison

MetricNorth CarolinaWashington
Active scholarships in catalog88191
Avg. award (where known)$2,964$3,652
Max indexed award$10,000$25,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, North Carolina provides a total of 44 scholarships with an average award size of approximately $2,890. In contrast, Washington boasts a more robust scholarship climate with 124 grants available, averaging around $3,739. The maximum award in North Carolina is $10,000, while Washington offers a significantly higher maximum of $25,000. The top universities in North Carolina include the Foundation For The Carolinas and the Chapel Hill Carrboro Public School Foundation, while Washington's leading institutions feature the Wenatchee Valley College Foundation and the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington.

Top Scholarship Providers in North Carolina

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Washington

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

North Carolina

North Carolina's scholarship climate is characterized by fewer opportunities and a lower average award size, appealing to applicants who may prefer a more localized competition.

Washington

Washington's scholarship landscape is more competitive with a greater number of grants and higher average awards, making it attractive for applicants seeking substantial financial assistance.

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.

Washington

Median household income

$97,733

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,418

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

23.29/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$62,990

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 27.40 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

39

ADI counties

39

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 39 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 39 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 Washington?
Washington offers a total of 124 scholarships.
What is the maximum scholarship amount in Washington?
The maximum scholarship amount in Washington is $25,000.
Which universities are the top scholarship providers in North Carolina?
The top scholarship providers in North Carolina include the Foundation For The Carolinas and the Chapel Hill Carrboro Public School Foundation.

Sources and official pages

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

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