← Back to State vs State

Arkansas vs Illinois: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Arkansas offers a smaller average award size and fewer opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking localized funding. Illinois presents a broader array of scholarships with higher average awards, appealing to those looking for substantial financial support.

State vs State

State A

Arkansas

State B

Illinois

Quick comparison

MetricArkansasIllinois
Active scholarships in catalog29272
Avg. award (where known)$2,248$1,958
Max indexed award$6,000$18,574

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, the scholarship landscape varies significantly between Arkansas and Illinois. Arkansas offers an average scholarship amount of $2,605.36, with a total of 33 grants available. The top universities providing scholarships in Arkansas include the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association and the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council.

In contrast, Illinois presents a more robust scholarship environment, with an average award size of $1,936.81 and a total of 280 grants. Notable institutions such as Loyola University Chicago and Waubonsee Community College lead in scholarship offerings, providing numerous opportunities for applicants.

Top Scholarship Providers in Arkansas

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Top Scholarship Providers in Illinois

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

Match workspace

Find scholarships that fit your profile

Find My Scholarships

Scholarship climate by state

Arkansas

Arkansas has a limited scholarship climate with fewer total opportunities and smaller average awards, making it more suitable for applicants focused on specific local funding.

Illinois

Illinois boasts a diverse scholarship climate with a higher volume of opportunities and larger average awards, appealing to a wider range of applicants.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Arkansas

Median household income

$59,954

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$912

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

19.17/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$43,630

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 52.45 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.

ADI band

higher indicator band

ADI counties

75

County health data

75

  • ADI block-group data is available across 75 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.
  • County health public data is available for 75 counties; use it alongside cost, school, and scholarship details.

Illinois

Median household income

$83,872

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,002

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

21.12/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$51,960

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 32.18 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

102

ADI counties

102

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 102 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 102 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 Arkansas?
$2,605.36
How many scholarships are available in Illinois?
There are 280 scholarships available.
Which university offers the most scholarships in Illinois?
Loyola University Chicago offers the most scholarships, with 611 grants.
What is the maximum scholarship amount in Arkansas?
$15,000

Sources and official pages

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

More guides around this State vs State comparison

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

Related scholarship articles

Related essay guides