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Illinois vs Iowa: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Illinois offers a higher total opportunity volume with more grants available, making it suitable for applicants seeking diverse funding options. Iowa, while having a higher average award size, has fewer opportunities, which may appeal to those targeting specific scholarships.

State vs State

State A

Illinois

State B

Iowa

Quick comparison

MetricIllinoisIowa
Active scholarships in catalog27239
Avg. award (where known)$1,958$2,305
Max indexed award$18,574$11,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Illinois presents a robust scholarship climate with a total of 280 grants available, averaging $1,937 per award, and a maximum award size reaching $18,574. The top universities in Illinois include Loyola University Chicago, Waubonsee Community College, and Kankakee Community College Foundation, which collectively offer numerous scholarship opportunities.

Conversely, Iowa has a more limited scholarship landscape with only 39 grants available, averaging $2,305 per award and a maximum of $11,000. The primary scholarship providers in Iowa include the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association, among others.

Top Scholarship Providers in Illinois

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Iowa

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Illinois

Illinois has a vibrant scholarship climate with numerous opportunities and a wide range of award amounts, making it appealing for many applicants.

Iowa

Iowa offers fewer scholarships but with a higher average award size, which may attract applicants focused on securing larger funding from specific sources.

Public reference data

Cost of living & wages

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

Visual comparison

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.

Iowa

Median household income

$74,077

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$967

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

20.97/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$48,540

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 23.88 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

higher indicator band

SVI counties

99

ADI counties

99

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 99 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 99 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 Illinois?
The average scholarship amount in Illinois is approximately $1,937.
How many scholarships are available in Iowa?
Iowa has a total of 39 scholarships available.
Which state offers the highest maximum scholarship amount?
Illinois offers the highest maximum scholarship amount at $18,574.
What are the top universities for scholarships in Illinois?
Top universities for scholarships in Illinois include Loyola University Chicago, Waubonsee Community College, and Kankakee Community College Foundation.

Sources and official pages

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

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