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.
Institution A
Illinois
Institution B
New Jersey
Quick comparison
| Metric | Illinois | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Active scholarships in catalog | 272 | 75 |
| Avg. award (where known) | $1,958 | $2,862 |
| Max indexed award | $18,574 | $10,000 |
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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
- 611 grants
- 156 grants
- 122 grants
- 21 grants
- 5 grants
Top Scholarship Providers in New Jersey
Ranked by number of active scholarships
- 6 grants
- 4 grants
- 3 grants
- 3 grants
- 2 grants
Get matched with scholarships in 2 minutes
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.
FAQ
What is the average scholarship amount in Illinois?
How many scholarships are available in New Jersey?
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship award?
What are the top universities for scholarships in Illinois?
Sources and official pages
Official and high-authority pages used to support this State vs State comparison.
- Federal Student Aid (U.S. Department of Education) - government reference
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) - government reference
- NCES College Navigator - government reference
- Illinois and New Jersey scholarship search reference - high-authority reference
More guides around this State vs State comparison
Internal reading paths around scholarship search, application strategy, and essay preparation for students comparing Illinois and New Jersey.
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