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South Dakota vs Vermont: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Vermont offers a higher average award size and more grant opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial financial support. South Dakota, while having fewer opportunities, may appeal to those interested in specific local scholarships.

State vs State

State A

South Dakota

State B

Vermont

Quick comparison

MetricSouth DakotaVermont
Active scholarships in catalog1937
Avg. award (where known)$2,133$2,588
Max indexed award$5,000$17,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, South Dakota presents a scholarship climate with a total of 19 grants available, averaging $2,133.33 per award, with a maximum award of $5,000. The top scholarship providers include the South Dakota High School Rodeo Association and Sigma Tau Delta. In contrast, Vermont has a more robust scholarship landscape, offering 39 grants with an average award size of $2,869.12 and a maximum of $17,000. Notable scholarship sources in Vermont include the Vermont Principals' Association and Friends and Family of John D. Sherman.

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Scholarship climate by state

South Dakota

South Dakota offers fewer scholarship opportunities with a lower average award size, making it suitable for applicants looking for specific local scholarships.

Vermont

Vermont has a more favorable scholarship climate with higher average awards and a greater number of grants available, appealing to those seeking substantial financial assistance.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

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.

Vermont

Median household income

$79,115

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,379

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

24.47/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$56,390

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 16.30 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

14

ADI counties

14

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 14 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 14 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 South Dakota?
The average scholarship amount in South Dakota is $2,133.33.
How many scholarships are available in Vermont?
Vermont offers a total of 39 scholarships.
What is the maximum scholarship award in Vermont?
The maximum scholarship award in Vermont is $17,000.
Which state has more scholarship opportunities?
Vermont has more scholarship opportunities with a total of 39 grants compared to South Dakota's 19.

Sources and official pages

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

Internal reading paths around scholarship search, application strategy, and essay preparation for students comparing South Dakota and Vermont.