Pennsylvania vs South Dakota: Scholarship Climate 2026
Which climate fits best? Pennsylvania offers a more robust scholarship climate with higher average awards and more opportunities compared to South Dakota, making it suitable for applicants seeking significant financial aid. South Dakota, while having fewer opportunities, may appeal to those looking for less competition.
State A
Pennsylvania
State B
South Dakota
Quick comparison
| Metric | Pennsylvania | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Active scholarships in catalog | 125 | 19 |
| Avg. award (where known) | $3,131 | $2,133 |
| Max indexed award | $40,000 | $5,000 |
Financial Aid Overview for 2026
Pennsylvania presents a strong scholarship climate with a total of 101 grants available, an average award size of $3,000, and maximum awards reaching up to $40,000. Notable scholarship providers include the Philadelphia Foundation and the POISE Foundation, which contribute significantly to the funding landscape.
In contrast, South Dakota offers a more limited scholarship environment with only 15 grants available, an average award size of approximately $2,179, and a maximum award of $5,000. The South Dakota High School Rodeo Association leads in grant offerings, but overall opportunities are fewer.
Top Scholarship Providers in Pennsylvania
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 22 grants
- 15 grants
- 13 grants
- 7 grants
- 7 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
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has a vibrant scholarship climate with a wide range of opportunities and higher average awards, making it appealing for many applicants.
South Dakota
South Dakota's scholarship climate is more modest, with fewer opportunities and lower average awards, which may suit applicants looking for less competition.
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 estimatePennsylvania
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.
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 Pennsylvania?
How many scholarships are available in South Dakota?
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship award?
What are the top scholarship providers in Pennsylvania?
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
- Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania and South Dakota.
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