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Pennsylvania vs Wisconsin: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Pennsylvania offers a more robust scholarship climate with higher average awards and a greater number of opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking significant financial support. Wisconsin, while having fewer opportunities and lower average awards, may appeal to those looking for specific niche scholarships.

State vs State

State A

Pennsylvania

State B

Wisconsin

Quick comparison

MetricPennsylvaniaWisconsin
Active scholarships in catalog12562
Avg. award (where known)$3,131$2,166
Max indexed award$40,000$12,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

Pennsylvania presents a strong scholarship landscape with a total of 101 grants available, an average award size of $3,000, and a maximum award reaching $40,000. Notable scholarship providers include the Philadelphia Foundation and the POISE Foundation, which contribute significantly to the funding landscape.

In contrast, Wisconsin offers a more limited selection of 58 grants, with an average award size of approximately $2,134.48 and a maximum award of $12,000. The National Dairy Shrine stands out as the leading scholarship provider in the state.

Top Scholarship Providers in Pennsylvania

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Wisconsin

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's scholarship climate is characterized by a high volume of opportunities and larger average awards, making it favorable for applicants seeking substantial financial assistance.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin's scholarship environment is more limited, with fewer opportunities and lower average awards, which may appeal to applicants looking for specific, niche scholarships.

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.

Wisconsin

Median household income

$76,621

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,061

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

21.45/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$50,270

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 26.16 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

72

ADI counties

72

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 72 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 72 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 scholarships are available in Wisconsin?
There are 58 scholarships available in Wisconsin.
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship award?
Pennsylvania has the highest maximum scholarship award at $40,000.
What is the average scholarship amount in Wisconsin?
The average scholarship amount in Wisconsin is approximately $2,134.48.

Sources and official pages

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

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