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Idaho vs Illinois: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Idaho offers a higher average award size but fewer opportunities compared to Illinois, which has a greater volume of scholarships available for applicants.

State vs State

State A

Idaho

State B

Illinois

Quick comparison

MetricIdahoIllinois
Active scholarships in catalog39272
Avg. award (where known)$3,625$1,958
Max indexed award$25,000$18,574

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Idaho presents a scholarship climate with an average award size of approximately $3,702, with a total of 32 grants available. The maximum award can reach up to $25,000, primarily offered by organizations such as the Idaho Community Foundation and the Idaho Golf Course Superintendents Association.

In contrast, Illinois has a more extensive scholarship landscape, featuring 238 grants with an average award size of around $1,970. The maximum award in Illinois is $18,574, with notable institutions like Loyola University Chicago leading in grant offerings.

Final verdict explanation

ScholarshipTop publishes this supplemental “Final verdict explanation” whenever the primary matchup body for 2026 skews thinner than editorial depth standards. The comparison table summarizes about 39 scholarships indexed today for listings commonly associated with Idaho alongside about 272 scholarships indexed today for listings commonly associated with Illinois using the same ingestion window, so deltas highlight catalog-wide signals rather than courthouse-grade guarantees. Residents, transfers, and commuter students weighing Idaho campuses against Illinois footprints should corroborate every figure with authoritative financial aid disclosures, state higher-ed portals, endowed scholarship riders, reciprocal tuition agreements, Honors supplements, or graduation timelines before staking savings plans.

After reviewing the matchup metrics above, continue with Matches-style browsing, internationally inclusive corridors when visas matter, streamlined application corridors when time is scarce, followed by essay hubs and evergreen resource articles covering drafting workflows, budgeting, appeals, parental contribution conversations, and scholarship renewals tied to academic performance. ScholarshipTop provides these cues as scaffolding; students still validate final award letters directly with campuses and adjust strategy whenever policies evolve during 2026 and afterward.

Top Scholarship Providers in Idaho

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Illinois

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Idaho

Idaho's scholarship climate is characterized by fewer opportunities but higher average awards, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial funding.

Illinois

Illinois provides a broader range of scholarships, appealing to applicants looking for more options, albeit with lower average award amounts.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

Idaho

Median household income

$74,989

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,133

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

23.13/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$47,970

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 20.55 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

44

ADI counties

44

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 44 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 44 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 Idaho?
The average scholarship amount in Idaho is approximately $3,702.
How many scholarships are available in Illinois?
Illinois offers a total of 238 scholarships.
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship award?
Illinois has the highest maximum scholarship award of $18,574.
What are the top universities for scholarships in Idaho?
Top universities in Idaho include Idaho Community Foundation and Idaho Golf Course Superintendents Association.
Where can I find more information about scholarships?
You can visit the Federal Student Aid website for comprehensive scholarship information.

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 Idaho and Illinois.

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