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Illinois vs Kentucky: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Illinois offers a larger volume of scholarships with higher average awards, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial financial aid. Kentucky, while having a lower average award size, may appeal to those looking for fewer but potentially more targeted opportunities.

State vs State

State A

Illinois

State B

Kentucky

Quick comparison

MetricIllinoisKentucky
Active scholarships in catalog27252
Avg. award (where known)$1,958$2,551
Max indexed award$18,574$10,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Illinois presents a robust scholarship climate with a total of 238 grants available, averaging approximately $1,970. The maximum award can reach up to $18,574, which is significantly higher than Kentucky's maximum of $5,300. Notable institutions in Illinois include Loyola University Chicago, which has awarded 611 grants, and Waubonsee Community College with 156 grants.

Conversely, Kentucky offers a more limited scholarship landscape with only 39 grants available, averaging around $2,131. The top universities in Kentucky, such as the Kentucky 4-H Foundation and the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, each have awarded 3 grants, indicating a smaller but potentially more focused scholarship offering.

Top Scholarship Providers in Illinois

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Kentucky

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 award amounts, making it attractive for a wide range of applicants.

Kentucky

Kentucky's scholarship climate is more limited, offering fewer grants and lower maximum awards, which may appeal to specific applicant needs.

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.

Kentucky

Median household income

$63,680

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$927

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

19.60/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$46,920

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 20.29 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

higher indicator band

SVI counties

120

ADI counties

120

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 120 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 120 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a total of 39 scholarships available.
Which university in Illinois has the most scholarships?
Loyola University Chicago has the most scholarships awarded, with a total of 611 grants.
What is the maximum scholarship amount in Kentucky?
The maximum scholarship amount in Kentucky is $5,300.

Sources and official pages

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

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