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Illinois vs Kansas: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Illinois offers a more robust scholarship climate with a higher average award size and more opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial financial aid. Kansas, while having fewer opportunities, may appeal to those looking for specific niche scholarships.

State vs State

State A

Illinois

State B

Kansas

Quick comparison

MetricIllinoisKansas
Active scholarships in catalog27245
Avg. award (where known)$1,958$1,802
Max indexed award$18,574$9,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Illinois presents a total of 238 scholarships with an average award size of approximately $1,970, while Kansas has 35 scholarships with an average award size of about $1,802. Illinois's maximum scholarship amount reaches $18,574, significantly higher than Kansas's maximum of $9,000. The top universities in Illinois include Loyola University Chicago, which offers the most grants, followed by Waubonsee Community College and Kankakee Community College Foundation. In Kansas, the Kansas Livestock Association and the Order of the Eastern Star-Grand Chapter of Kansas are notable for their scholarship offerings.

Top Scholarship Providers in Illinois

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Kansas

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 higher average awards, making it attractive for a wide range of applicants.

Kansas

Kansas offers fewer scholarships, but they can be beneficial for applicants targeting specific fields or community-focused programs.

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.

Kansas

Median household income

$74,984

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$914

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

20.85/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$48,010

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 37.24 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

105

ADI counties

105

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 105 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 105 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 $1,970.
How many scholarships are available in Kansas?
Kansas has a total of 35 scholarships available.
Which university in Illinois offers the most scholarships?
Loyola University Chicago offers the most scholarships in Illinois.
What is the maximum scholarship amount in Kansas?
The maximum scholarship amount in Kansas is $9,000.

Sources and official pages

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

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