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Illinois vs New Hampshire: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Illinois offers a larger volume of scholarships with a higher maximum award, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial funding. New Hampshire, while having a smaller opportunity volume, provides a slightly higher average award size, appealing to those prioritizing individual scholarship amounts.

State vs State

State A

Illinois

State B

New Hampshire

Quick comparison

MetricIllinoisNew Hampshire
Active scholarships in catalog27247
Avg. award (where known)$1,958$2,606
Max indexed award$18,574$17,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Illinois presents a robust scholarship climate with a total of 238 grants available, averaging $1,970 per award, and a maximum award amount of $18,574. The top universities in Illinois include Loyola University Chicago, Waubonsee Community College, and Kankakee Community College Foundation, which collectively offer a significant number of scholarships.

Conversely, New Hampshire has a more limited scholarship landscape, with only 34 grants available. The average award size is $2,465, with a maximum of $17,000. Key scholarship providers in New Hampshire include the Manchester Scholarship Foundation and the American Society of Civil Engineers-New Hampshire Section.

Top Scholarship Providers in Illinois

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in New Hampshire

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Illinois

Illinois has a vibrant scholarship environment with numerous opportunities and substantial awards, making it ideal for applicants seeking financial support.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire's scholarship climate is more limited, but it offers higher average awards, which may attract applicants looking for significant funding from fewer 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.

New Hampshire

Median household income

$96,373

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,886

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

25.07/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$55,880

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 12.39 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

10

ADI counties

10

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 10 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 10 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 New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has a total of 34 scholarships available.
Which university in Illinois offers the most scholarships?
Loyola University Chicago offers the most scholarships in Illinois, with a total of 611 grants.
What is the maximum scholarship amount in New Hampshire?
The maximum scholarship amount in New Hampshire is $17,000.

Sources and official pages

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

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