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Illinois vs Ohio: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Illinois offers a broader range of scholarships with higher average awards, making it suitable for applicants seeking substantial financial aid. Ohio, while having fewer opportunities, provides a decent average award size for those who may prefer a more focused scholarship search.

State vs State

State A

Illinois

State B

Ohio

Quick comparison

MetricIllinoisOhio
Active scholarships in catalog27296
Avg. award (where known)$1,958$2,208
Max indexed award$18,574$9,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, the scholarship climate in Illinois presents a total of 238 grants with an average award size of approximately $1,970. The maximum award available is $18,574. Top universities in Illinois include Loyola University Chicago, Waubonsee Community College, and Kankakee Community College Foundation, each providing significant scholarship opportunities.

Conversely, Ohio has a total of 83 grants with an average award size of around $2,249, and a maximum award of $9,000. Notable institutions include Cuyahoga Community College and The Community Foundation of Shelby County, which offer various scholarships.

Top Scholarship Providers in Illinois

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Ohio

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Illinois

Illinois has a robust scholarship climate with a high number of grants and larger average awards, making it attractive for applicants seeking extensive financial support.

Ohio

Ohio's scholarship climate, while smaller in volume, still offers reasonable average awards, appealing to applicants who prefer a more selective approach.

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.

Ohio

Median household income

$71,048

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,046

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

20.63/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$49,380

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 27.12 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

higher indicator band

SVI counties

88

ADI counties

88

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 88 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 88 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a total of 83 scholarships available for applicants.
Which university in Illinois has the most scholarship opportunities?
Loyola University Chicago offers the most scholarship opportunities in Illinois.
What is the maximum scholarship amount in Ohio?
The maximum scholarship amount available in Ohio is $9,000.

Sources and official pages

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

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