Rhode Island vs South Dakota: Scholarship Climate 2026
Which climate fits best? Rhode Island offers a higher average award and more opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial financial aid. South Dakota may appeal to those looking for smaller awards and fewer options.
State A
Rhode Island
State B
South Dakota
Quick comparison
| Metric | Rhode Island | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Active scholarships in catalog | 47 | 19 |
| Avg. award (where known) | $3,318 | $2,133 |
| Max indexed award | $17,000 | $5,000 |
Financial Aid Overview for 2026
In 2026, Rhode Island presents a robust scholarship climate with 49 grants available, averaging approximately $3,711 per award, and a maximum award size of $20,000. The leading institutions offering scholarships include the Rhode Island Foundation and the Association of the United States Army-Rhode Island Chapter. In contrast, South Dakota has a total of 19 grants, with an average award of around $2,133 and a maximum of $5,000. The South Dakota High School Rodeo Association is among the top scholarship providers in the state.
Top Scholarship Providers in Rhode Island
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 8 grants
- 2 grants
- 2 grants
- 1 grant
- 1 grant
Top Scholarship Providers in South Dakota
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 5 grants
- 2 grants
- 1 grant
- 1 grant
- 1 grant
Match workspace
Find scholarships that fit your profile
Scholarship climate by state
Rhode Island
Rhode Island's scholarship climate is characterized by a higher volume of opportunities and larger average awards, making it favorable for applicants seeking significant financial support.
South Dakota
South Dakota's scholarship climate offers fewer opportunities and smaller awards, which may be suitable for applicants with specific eligibility criteria or those seeking less competitive options.
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 estimateRhode Island
Median household income
$86,394
Census ACS
Fair market rent (2BR)
$1,873
HUD monthly estimate
Living wage
26.01/hr
Single adult, MIT model
BLS median wage
$56,780
State occupational estimate
Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 17.45 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
5
ADI counties
5
- CDC SVI county data is available for 5 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
- ADI block-group data is available across 5 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 Rhode Island?
How many scholarships are available in South Dakota?
Which state has a higher maximum scholarship award?
What are the top scholarship providers in Rhode Island?
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
- Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island and South Dakota.
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