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Illinois vs Wyoming: Scholarship Climate 2026

Which climate fits best? Illinois offers a higher volume of scholarship opportunities, making it suitable for applicants seeking more options, while Wyoming provides larger average awards for fewer applicants.

State vs State

State A

Illinois

State B

Wyoming

Quick comparison

MetricIllinoisWyoming
Active scholarships in catalog27228
Avg. award (where known)$1,958$2,692
Max indexed award$18,574$25,000

Financial Aid Overview for 2026

In 2026, Illinois presents a robust scholarship climate with 280 grants available, averaging $1,937, while Wyoming offers a more limited selection of 28 grants, averaging $2,692. The maximum award in Illinois is $18,574, significantly higher than Wyoming's $25,000, indicating that while Wyoming's top award is larger, the overall opportunities in Illinois are more plentiful.

Illinois is home to several top universities, including Loyola University Chicago, which has the highest number of grants at 611. Other notable institutions include Waubonsee Community College and Kankakee Community College Foundation. In contrast, Wyoming's scholarship landscape is dominated by smaller organizations, with the General Federation of Women's Clubs of Wyoming and Wyoming Telecommunications Association each offering only 2 grants.

Top Scholarship Providers in Illinois

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Top Scholarship Providers in Wyoming

Ranked by number of active scholarships

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Scholarship climate by state

Illinois

Illinois has a thriving scholarship environment with numerous opportunities and a wide range of award sizes, making it appealing for diverse applicants.

Wyoming

Wyoming's scholarship climate is more constrained, offering fewer opportunities but with the potential for higher individual awards.

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.

Wyoming

Median household income

$75,709

Census ACS

Fair market rent (2BR)

$1,044

HUD monthly estimate

Living wage

21.66/hr

Single adult, MIT model

BLS median wage

$50,270

State occupational estimate

Reported violent crime rate (state aggregate): 18.43 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

23

ADI counties

23

  • CDC SVI county data is available for 23 counties; county indicators vary and are best used as public planning context.
  • ADI block-group data is available across 23 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 $1,937.
How many scholarships are available in Wyoming?
Wyoming has a total of 28 scholarships available.
Which state has more scholarship opportunities?
Illinois has significantly more scholarship opportunities compared to Wyoming.
What is the maximum scholarship amount in Wyoming?
The maximum scholarship amount in Wyoming is $25,000.

Sources and official pages

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

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