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District of Columbia vs Illinois: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? The District of Columbia offers higher average scholarship amounts but fewer opportunities, while Illinois has a larger volume of grants with lower average awards, appealing to different applicant needs.

State vs State

State A

District of Columbia

State B

Illinois

Quick comparison

MetricDistrict of ColumbiaIllinois
Active scholarships in catalog28272
Avg. award (where known)$5,422$1,958
Max indexed award$25,000$18,574

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

The scholarship landscape for 2026 reveals distinct differences between the District of Columbia and Illinois. In the District of Columbia, there are 29 scholarships available, with an average award size of approximately $5,223.13, and a maximum award reaching $25,000. Conversely, Illinois boasts a significantly larger number of scholarships, totaling 280, but with a lower average award of about $1,936.81 and a maximum of $18,574. This disparity indicates that while applicants in the District of Columbia may receive larger individual awards, those in Illinois have access to a broader range of funding opportunities.

Top Scholarship Providers in District of Columbia

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Top Scholarship Providers in Illinois

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Scholarship climate by state

District of Columbia

The District of Columbia's scholarship climate is characterized by fewer opportunities but higher average award amounts, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial funding.

Illinois

Illinois presents a more competitive scholarship environment with a greater number of grants available, appealing to applicants who prefer multiple funding sources despite lower average awards.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

District of Columbia

Median household income

$106,287

Census ACS

Living wage

27.48/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$91,540

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 96.40 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

lower indicator band

SVI counties

1

ADI counties

1

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 1 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 1 counties; local conditions can vary within the same state.

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 the District of Columbia?
The average scholarship amount in the District of Columbia is approximately $5,223.125.
How many scholarships are available in Illinois?
Illinois has a total of 280 scholarships available for applicants.
What is the maximum scholarship award in Illinois?
The maximum scholarship award in Illinois is $18,574.
Which state has more scholarship opportunities?
Illinois has more scholarship opportunities with a total of 280 grants compared to 29 in the District of Columbia.

Sources and official pages

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

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