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Illinois vs New York: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Illinois offers a larger number of scholarships with lower average awards, making it suitable for applicants seeking more opportunities. New York provides fewer scholarships but with significantly higher average awards, appealing to those who need larger funding.

State vs State

State A

Illinois

State B

New York

Quick comparison

MetricIllinoisNew York
Active scholarships in catalog27273
Avg. award (where known)$1,958$3,982
Max indexed award$18,574$50,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Illinois presents a total of 238 scholarships with an average award size of approximately $1,970. The maximum award can reach $18,574. Notable universities in Illinois include Loyola University Chicago, which has the highest grant count at 611, followed by Waubonsee Community College and Kankakee Community College Foundation.

Conversely, New York offers a smaller total of 55 scholarships but with a higher average award size of around $4,273 and a maximum of $50,000. The top universities in New York include the United States Tennis Association, with 8 grants, and several others with fewer awards.

Top Scholarship Providers in Illinois

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Top Scholarship Providers in New York

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Scholarship climate by state

Illinois

Illinois has a robust scholarship climate with numerous opportunities but lower average award amounts, making it accessible for many applicants.

New York

New York's scholarship climate, while limited in quantity, offers significantly higher average awards, catering to applicants who require 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.

New York

Median household income

$89,717

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,332

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

24.55/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$59,670

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 26.65 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

62

ADI counties

62

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 62 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 62 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 York?
New York has a total of 55 scholarships available.
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship award?
New York has the highest maximum scholarship award at $50,000.
What is the total number of scholarships in Illinois?
Illinois has a total of 238 scholarships.

Sources and official pages

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

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