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Illinois vs Montana: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Illinois offers a higher number of scholarships with a lower average award size, making it suitable for applicants seeking more opportunities. Montana, while having fewer scholarships, provides higher average award amounts, appealing to those looking for larger funding.

State vs State

State A

Illinois

State B

Montana

Quick comparison

MetricIllinoisMontana
Active scholarships in catalog27233
Avg. award (where known)$1,958$2,639
Max indexed award$18,574$25,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Illinois presents a robust scholarship climate with a total of 280 grants available, averaging approximately $1,937 per award. The state's top institutions include Loyola University Chicago, which has the highest number of grants at 611, followed by Waubonsee Community College and Kankakee Community College Foundation.

Conversely, Montana offers a smaller pool of scholarships, totaling only 38 grants, but with a higher average award size of around $2,527. The leading scholarship providers in Montana include the Montana Coaches Association and the Montana Federation of Garden Clubs, albeit with significantly fewer grants compared to Illinois.

Top Scholarship Providers in Illinois

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Montana

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Illinois

Illinois has a vibrant scholarship landscape with numerous opportunities and a broad range of institutions offering financial aid.

Montana

Montana's scholarship climate is more limited in quantity but offers higher average award sizes, making it attractive for applicants seeking substantial funding.

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.

Montana

Median household income

$69,565

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,129

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

23.91/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$48,740

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 36.77 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

middle indicator band

SVI counties

56

ADI counties

56

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 56 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 56 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 Montana?
Montana has a total of 38 scholarships available.
Which university in Illinois offers the most scholarships?
Loyola University Chicago offers the most scholarships in Illinois, with 611 grants.
What is the maximum scholarship amount in Montana?
The maximum scholarship amount available in Montana is $25,000.

Sources and official pages

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

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