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Pennsylvania vs Virginia: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Pennsylvania offers a higher average award size and more grant opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial funding. Virginia, while slightly lower in average awards, still provides a range of options for applicants.

State vs State

State A

Pennsylvania

State B

Virginia

Quick comparison

MetricPennsylvaniaVirginia
Active scholarships in catalog125125
Avg. award (where known)$3,131$2,840
Max indexed award$40,000$20,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

Pennsylvania presents a robust scholarship climate with a total of 101 grants available, averaging $3,000 per award, and a maximum award size reaching $40,000. The top universities offering scholarships include the Philadelphia Foundation and the POISE Foundation, which collectively provide a significant number of grants.

In contrast, Virginia offers 91 grants with an average award size of approximately $2,889. The maximum award in Virginia is capped at $20,000. Notable scholarship providers include the Southeast Virginia Community Foundation and the UVA Alumni Association.

Top Scholarship Providers in Pennsylvania

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

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's scholarship climate is characterized by a higher average award size and a greater number of available grants, making it favorable for applicants seeking substantial financial aid.

Virginia

Virginia's scholarship climate, while offering fewer grants and lower average awards, still provides valuable opportunities for applicants, especially those attending community colleges.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

State-level affordability context to complement scholarship climate above - not ScholarshipTop grant totals.

Visual comparison

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.

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 Pennsylvania?
The average scholarship amount in Pennsylvania is $3,000.
How many grants are available in Virginia?
Virginia has a total of 91 grants available for applicants.
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship award?
Pennsylvania has the highest maximum scholarship award at $40,000.
What are some top scholarship providers in Pennsylvania?
Top scholarship providers in Pennsylvania include the Philadelphia Foundation and the POISE Foundation.
Is there a significant difference in average award sizes between the two states?
Yes, Pennsylvania's average award size is higher than Virginia's by approximately $111.

Sources and official pages

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

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