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Tennessee vs Wisconsin: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Tennessee may suit applicants who want a smaller pool of opportunities but a higher average award and higher top-end scholarship potential. Wisconsin may fit applicants who prefer a broader volume of scholarships, even if the average award size is lower.

State vs State

State A

Tennessee

State B

Wisconsin

Quick comparison

MetricTennesseeWisconsin
Active scholarships in catalog4062
Avg. award (where known)$4,959$2,166
Max indexed award$50,000$12,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

Tennessee and Wisconsin present different scholarship climates for applicants in 2026. Tennessee shows 47 listed scholarship opportunities with an average award of $4,337.63 and a maximum award of $50,000. Wisconsin shows 68 listed scholarship opportunities with an average award of $2,204.62 and a maximum award of $12,000. In practical terms, Tennessee appears more favorable for students prioritizing larger average awards, while Wisconsin appears stronger for students seeking a wider overall pool of scholarship options.

Among the strongest scholarship providers listed in Tennessee, Playmakers Nashville leads with 5 grants, followed by Action Air & Electric Inc., Beacon Light Stories, Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, and Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee with 1 each. In Wisconsin, National Dairy Shrine stands out with 10 grants, followed by American Water Works Association-Wisconsin Section with 3, Brewers Community Foundation with 2, Solid Waste Association of North America-Wisconsin Badger Chapter with 2, and Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation with 1. Applicants comparing these states should weigh whether they value higher average award size or a larger number of available opportunities.

Top Scholarship Providers in Tennessee

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

Tennessee

Tennessee feels more selective but potentially more rewarding per scholarship, with fewer total opportunities and a higher average award size.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin feels broader and more volume-driven, with more total opportunities but a lower average award size.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Tennessee

Median household income

$69,008

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,015

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

19.90/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$47,380

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 53.93 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

95

ADI counties

95

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 95 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 95 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

Which state has more scholarship opportunities in 2026?
Wisconsin has more listed scholarship opportunities, with 68 compared with Tennessee's 47.
Which state has the higher average scholarship award?
Tennessee has the higher average award at $4,337.63, while Wisconsin's average award is $2,204.62.
Which state offers the higher maximum scholarship amount?
Tennessee has the higher maximum listed award at $50,000, compared with Wisconsin's $12,000.
Who are the strongest listed scholarship providers in each state?
In Tennessee, Playmakers Nashville has the most listed grants at 5. In Wisconsin, National Dairy Shrine leads with 10 listed grants.

Sources and official pages

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

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Internal reading paths around scholarship search, application strategy, and essay preparation for students comparing Tennessee and Wisconsin.

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