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Illinois vs Wisconsin: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Illinois offers a higher number of grants with a substantial maximum award, making it suitable for applicants seeking diverse funding options. Wisconsin, while having a slightly higher average award, has fewer opportunities, which may appeal to those targeting specific scholarships.

State vs State

State A

Illinois

State B

Wisconsin

Quick comparison

MetricIllinoisWisconsin
Active scholarships in catalog27262
Avg. award (where known)$1,958$2,166
Max indexed award$18,574$12,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Illinois presents a robust scholarship climate with a total of 238 grants available, averaging $1,970. The maximum award can reach up to $18,574, indicating a wide range of funding opportunities for students. The top universities in Illinois include Loyola University Chicago, Waubonsee Community College, and Kankakee Community College Foundation, which collectively offer a significant number of grants.

Conversely, Wisconsin has a more limited scholarship offering with only 58 grants, averaging $2,134. The maximum award in Wisconsin is capped at $12,000. Notable institutions providing scholarships in Wisconsin include the National Dairy Shrine and the American Water Works Association-Wisconsin Section, though they offer fewer grants compared to their Illinois counterparts.

Top Scholarship Providers in Illinois

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Wisconsin

Ranked by number of active scholarships

View all scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Illinois

Illinois has a competitive scholarship landscape with a higher volume of grants and substantial maximum awards, appealing to a broad range of applicants.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin's scholarship climate is more niche, with fewer opportunities but slightly higher average awards, suitable for targeted applicants.

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.

Wisconsin

Median household income

$76,621

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,061

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

21.45/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$50,270

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 26.16 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

72

ADI counties

72

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 72 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 72 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?
$1,970
How many scholarships are available in Wisconsin?
58 scholarships
Which state has the highest maximum scholarship amount?
Illinois, with a maximum of $18,574
What are the top universities for scholarships in Illinois?
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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