North Dakota vs Pennsylvania: Scholarship Climate 2026
Which climate fits best? North Dakota offers fewer opportunities with smaller average awards, suitable for applicants seeking niche scholarships. Pennsylvania provides a broader range of options and higher potential awards, ideal for those pursuing substantial financial aid.
State A
North Dakota
State B
Pennsylvania
Quick comparison
| Metric | North Dakota | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Active scholarships in catalog | 13 | 125 |
| Avg. award (where known) | $3,722 | $3,131 |
| Max indexed award | $15,000 | $40,000 |
Financial Aid Overview for 2026
In 2026, the scholarship landscape varies significantly between North Dakota and Pennsylvania. North Dakota presents a total of 10 scholarships with an average award size of approximately $3,722. The maximum award available is $15,000. Notable scholarship providers include AgCountry Farm Credit Services and the North Dakota Petroleum Council.
Conversely, Pennsylvania boasts a much larger scholarship pool with 101 opportunities, an average award size of $3,000, and a maximum award reaching $40,000. Key organizations offering scholarships include the Philadelphia Foundation and the POISE Foundation, making Pennsylvania a more competitive environment for applicants seeking financial assistance.
Top Scholarship Providers in North Dakota
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 1 grant
- 1 grant
- 1 grant
- 1 grant
- 1 grant
Top Scholarship Providers in Pennsylvania
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 22 grants
- 15 grants
- 13 grants
- 7 grants
- 7 grants
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Scholarship climate by state
North Dakota
North Dakota's scholarship climate is characterized by limited opportunities and smaller average awards, making it suitable for applicants focused on specific fields.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's scholarship climate is robust, offering a wide variety of scholarships and larger awards, appealing to 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
Median household income
Census ACSFair market rent (2BR)
HUD monthly estimateLiving wage
Single adult, MIT modelBLS median wage
State occupational estimateNorth Dakota
Median household income
$76,193
Census ACS
Fair market rent (2BR)
$963
HUD monthly estimate
Living wage
21.00/hr
Single adult, MIT model
BLS median wage
$52,480
State occupational estimate
Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 24.02 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
53
ADI counties
53
- CDC SVI county data is available for 53 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
- ADI block-group data is available across 53 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 North Dakota?
How many scholarships are available in Pennsylvania?
What is the maximum scholarship award in Pennsylvania?
Which state has more scholarship opportunities?
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 Dakota and Pennsylvania 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 Dakota and Pennsylvania.
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