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Vermont vs Wisconsin: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Wisconsin appears better suited to applicants who want a larger overall pool of scholarship opportunities, while Vermont may appeal more to applicants prioritizing a higher average award size. In both states, applicants should pay close attention to the organizations with the most listed awards, since those sponsors shape much of the available scholarship climate.

State vs State

State A

Vermont

State B

Wisconsin

Quick comparison

MetricVermontWisconsin
Active scholarships in catalog3762
Avg. award (where known)$2,588$2,166
Max indexed award$17,000$12,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

For 2026, Wisconsin shows the larger scholarship opportunity volume, with 68 listed grants compared with 39 in Vermont. Vermont, however, has the higher average award size at 2,869.12, versus 2,204.62 in Wisconsin. The maximum listed award is also higher in Vermont at 17000, compared with 12000 in Wisconsin.

In Vermont, the most active listed scholarship sponsor is Vermont Principals' Association with 2 grants, followed by several organizations with 1 grant each, including Friends and Family of John D. Sherman, Vermont Horse Council, Vermont Hunter Jumper Association, and Vermont Morgan Horse Association. In Wisconsin, National Dairy Shrine stands out with 10 grants, ahead of American Water Works Association-Wisconsin Section with 3, and Brewers Community Foundation plus Solid Waste Association of North America-Wisconsin Badger Chapter with 2 each.

For applicants, this creates two different climates. Wisconsin offers a broader field of opportunities, which may benefit students willing to search across more programs. Vermont offers fewer total listings, but the average award size is higher, which may be attractive for students targeting fewer, potentially larger awards.

Top Scholarship Providers in Vermont

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

Vermont

Vermont feels narrower but potentially more rewarding per win, with 39 listed grants, a 2,869.12 average award, and a 17000 maximum award. The climate may suit applicants comfortable targeting a smaller pool of opportunities with somewhat stronger average dollar value.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin feels broader and more volume-driven, with 68 listed grants, a 2,204.62 average award, and a 12000 maximum award. The climate may suit applicants who want more total scholarship options and are prepared to apply across a wider range of sponsors.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

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.

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 grants compared with 39 in Vermont.
Which state has the higher average scholarship award?
Vermont has the higher average listed award size at 2869.1176470588234, while Wisconsin's average is 2204.6153846153848.
Which state has the higher maximum listed scholarship award?
Vermont has the higher maximum listed award at 17000, compared with 12000 in Wisconsin.
Who are the strongest scholarship sponsors in each state?
In Vermont, Vermont Principals' Association has the most listed grants at 2. In Wisconsin, National Dairy Shrine leads clearly 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 Vermont and Wisconsin.

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