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Illinois vs Massachusetts: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Illinois offers a moderate scholarship climate with a larger number of grants, while Massachusetts provides higher average awards but fewer total opportunities. Applicants should consider their financial needs and the availability of scholarships in each state.

State vs State

State A

Illinois

State B

Massachusetts

Quick comparison

MetricIllinoisMassachusetts
Active scholarships in catalog272268
Avg. award (where known)$1,958$3,188
Max indexed award$18,574$100,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Illinois presents a scholarship climate characterized by a total of 238 grants with an average award size of approximately $1,970. The maximum award can reach up to $18,574. Notable institutions such as Loyola University Chicago and Waubonsee Community College lead in grant offerings.

Conversely, Massachusetts offers a slightly higher average award of about $2,553, with the maximum award reaching $40,000. However, the total number of grants is lower at 149. Key universities like Worcester State University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst are significant providers of financial aid.

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 272 scholarships indexed today for listings commonly associated with Illinois alongside about 268 scholarships indexed today for listings commonly associated with Massachusetts using the same ingestion window, so deltas highlight catalog-wide signals rather than courthouse-grade guarantees. Residents, transfers, and commuter students weighing Illinois campuses against Massachusetts 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 Illinois

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Massachusetts

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Illinois

Illinois has a diverse range of scholarships available, making it accessible for many applicants, especially those attending community colleges.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts offers higher average awards, making it attractive for students seeking substantial financial support, despite fewer total opportunities.

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.

Massachusetts

Median household income

$103,563

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$2,161

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

29.13/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$63,590

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 26.85 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

14

ADI counties

14

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 14 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 14 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.
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship award?
Massachusetts has the highest maximum scholarship award at $40,000.
How many grants are available in Massachusetts?
There are a total of 149 grants available in Massachusetts.
What are the top universities for scholarships in Illinois?
Top universities in Illinois for scholarships include Loyola University Chicago and Waubonsee Community College.

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 Illinois and Massachusetts.

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