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Illinois vs New Jersey: 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 Jersey, while having a higher average award, has fewer opportunities overall.

State vs State

State A

Illinois

State B

New Jersey

Quick comparison

MetricIllinoisNew Jersey
Active scholarships in catalog27275
Avg. award (where known)$1,958$2,862
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 around $1,970 per award. The maximum award can reach up to $18,574, indicating significant funding potential for students. Notable institutions in Illinois include Loyola University Chicago, which has the highest number of grants at 611, followed by Waubonsee Community College and Kankakee Community College Foundation.

Conversely, New Jersey offers a smaller pool of 62 grants, with an average award size of approximately $2,839 and a maximum of $10,000. The top universities in New Jersey include Bio-Rad Laboratories and the New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association, but the overall number of available scholarships is limited compared to Illinois.

Top Scholarship Providers in Illinois

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in New Jersey

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Illinois

Illinois has a vibrant scholarship landscape with many opportunities and high maximum awards, appealing to a wide range of applicants.

New Jersey

New Jersey's scholarship climate is more limited in volume but offers higher average awards, which may attract applicants focused on specific fields.

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 Jersey

Median household income

$102,215

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$2,128

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

26.69/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$58,570

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 16.85 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

21

ADI counties

21

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 21 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 21 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 Jersey?
New Jersey has a total of 62 scholarships available.
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship award?
Illinois has the highest maximum scholarship award of $18,574.
What are the top universities for scholarships in Illinois?
The top universities for scholarships in Illinois include Loyola University Chicago, Waubonsee Community College, and Kankakee Community College Foundation.

Sources and official pages

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

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