Last Updated: July 18, 2021
Illinois - Prairie State
Illinois is one of the most densely populated states in the United States of America, the 5th most populous state, with an estimated population of around 12 million, in the year 2021. The climate here is mostly humid, and it keeps varying throughout the year, with the summers being hot and humid and the winters being cold and dry. It is popularly known as the 'Prairie State' because it is surrounded by numerous prairie grasslands and woodlands. The Lincoln Prairie Trail, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, The Illinois Prairie Path, Gensburg - Markham Prairie Nature Preserve, are the popular prairie sites in the state that give it the popular nickname. Illinois is also called the land of lincoln as he had started his political career in this state. It is also the birthplace of the 40th U.S. president, Ronald Regan, and many other famous personalities like Harrison Ford, Robin Williams, and Walt Disney.
Springfield is the capital of the state, but Illinois is mostly famous for the 'Wind City' of Chicago. The Central Plains region, The Shawnee Hills region, The Gulf Coastal Plain region are the three main regions that are culminated into the state of Illinois. With more than 125 colleges and universities, along with a diverse culture and environment, the state of Illinois is a beautiful place not just to earn but to live as well. The state boasts of some of the biggest counts of Fortune 500 companies across the U.S like Walgreens, McDonald’s, Boeing, Caterpillar Inc., Abbott Laboratories, United Airlines, and so on.
Major Cities in Illinois
Chicago
The largest and the most densely populated city, Chicago, is popularly known as the 'Windy City' because of its windy atmosphere. The city is the international epicenter of technology, finance, and transportation. With major Fortune 500 companies located here like Motorola, Boeing, Paypal, and global financial centers headquartered here, Chicago is undoubtedly one of the most widely popular cities in the United States and is also home to a number of prestigious universities and colleges.
Aurora
Founded in the year 1837, Aurora is the second-largest city in the state of Illinois. Considering that it was one of the prime cities in the nation to invest in an electric street light system, it acquired the nickname 'City of Lights'.
Notable outdoor destinations include the SciTech Interactive Science Museum, The Hollywood Casino, the Paramount Arts Centre, and so on.
Rockford
The city of Rockford was founded in the year 1834 and incorporated as a city in 1852. It is the third-largest city and acquired its name from the Rock River as it is situated on the banks of the river. Rockford is a major industrial and economic hub because of its manufacturing centers.
Popular tourist attractions include the Burpee Museum of Natural History, Ethnic Heritage Museum, The Discovery Center Museum, and more.
Joliet
Named after the famous explorer Louis Joliet, the city was founded in the year 1673. It was once known as the Steel City because of various steel mills. Joliet is also a major tourist center full of cultural sites and outdoor recreational activities.
The Rialto Square Theatre, popularly called the "Jewel of Joliet" is situated here.
Springfield
Founded in the year 1819, Springfield is the capital of Illinois. It is popularly known as the hometown of Abraham Lincoln and therefore, The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is a major historical site in the city. One can also enjoy the shopping, dining, and nightlife in the city.
Economy/Job Market
Illinois is a major economic hub and boasts of some of the biggest counts of Fortune 500 companies across the U.S like Walgreens, McDonald’s, Boeing, Caterpillar Inc., Abbott Laboratories, United Airlines, Motorola, and so on. The major economic sectors of the state are Manufacturing, Agriculture, Mining, Nuclear Energy, Oil Production, and more. Agriculture is an important industry here with a profit of around $17 billion every year, according to 2020 reports. It is the largest producer of pumpkins and soybeans and is the second leading producer of corn. The economy of Illinois is slowly recovering and improving after the Covid-19 pandemic. 6.4% was the economic growth rate of the state annually according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, but the GDP is slightly lower compared to how it was before the pandemic. the unemployment rate is 7.1%, which is above the nation's average. The growth rate of sectors like arts and entertainment is 38.6% per year and is improving at a faster pace.
Tuition Fee and Living Cost in Illinois
The tuition fee can always vary depending upon the type of institution (public/private) and the chosen academic program. The fees structure for in-state students is different as compared to that for out-state students. The fee for in-state students is comparatively lower. To be more specific the tuition fees for an out-of-state candidate are almost double the amount paid by the in-state candidates. For instance, the tuition fees for undergraduates in the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign is around $19,000 for in-state students and $39,000 for out-of-state students. But unlike most of the universities in other states, many universities and colleges do not charge an extra fee from out-of-state students. Bloomington, DeKalb, Naperville, Belleville, Springfield are some of the most affordable places to live in the state of Illinois, Chicago being the costliest. Based on the U.S. average, the cost of living in Illinois is cheaper. Housing costs are the cheapest, whereas transportation costs are costlier than the nation's average. The median household income as of 2021 is around $66,000.
List of Few Major Universities/Colleges
Education is known for being diverse with a welcoming and comfortable environment for all students from across the world, here in Illinois. The colleges and universities here encourage the students to participate in various campus activities and multicultural club activities while providing the students with quality education. Following are the four major universities in the state of Illinois:
- University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign Founded in the year 1867, this university is renowned for its excellent teaching, academic quality, high research, and amazing faculty who are Nobel Prize winners and Pulitzer Prize winners. Situated in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign, the university offers more than 250 degree programs and is the most diverse institutes of higher learning with students from all over the world coming here to fulfill their educational goals.
- Northwestern University Known as the 'Ivy of the Midwest', this university is one of the most prestigious institutions and the prime center to acquire high-quality education from renowned scholars, in the field of arts and communication. It was founded in the year 1857 and is situated in Evanston. Northwestern University holds the 9th position nationally, according to the 2021 reports by U.S. News.
- University of Chicago This is a distinguished private research institute founded in the year 1890, situated in the city of Chicago. It is widely known for its rigorous curriculum and academic programs, where students are given ample opportunities to get involved in high-quality research and projects. The university ranks 6 nationally, according to the 2021 reports of US News. Former President Barack Obama was once a faculty member in the University of Chicago Law School.
- University of Illinois Chicago This university was founded in the year 1965 and is situated in the city of Chicago. It is known for being a diverse public research institution with a very welcoming environment for the students. The university offers more than 86 degree programs for undergraduates and 110+ master's degree programs.
Scholarships/Financial Aids for Students
There are a number of students who wish to pursue a degree in the best institutions of higher learning but may not be able to afford it. There are also exceptionally talented students who need assistance to fearlessly move forward with their dreams to achieve higher educational goals. In order to fulfill these needs, the state of Illinois has initiated various grants and scholarship programs to make higher education convenient and affordable for all students. Â The 'Free Application For Federal Student Aid' (FAFSA) is to be filled prior to the application for any kind of financial aid. Every financial aid supported by the federal or the state government depends on the FAFSA to determine the qualification of the candidate for grants and scholarships.
- Illinois General Assembly Legislative Scholarship This program was initiated to provide monetary assistance to the residents of Illinois enrolled in any of the state-supported universities. It is based on academic merit and financial need. A member of the state’s general assembly is to nominate the students for consideration. The nominees will be later qualified to receive a 2 or 4-year scholarship. The candidate is supposed to reside in the district represented by the nominator. This scholarship program covers the entire tuition fee amount.
- Illinois Veteran Grant Program This is a Grant program provided to veterans who have served a minimum of one year of active duty in the armed forces of the United States. In order to be eligible, the candidate is required to be a resident of Illinois and must have received an honorable discharge. The program helps to cover the entire tuition fee and mandatory fee. The candidate should also be enrolled at a public university or community college of the state.
- Illinois Monetary Award Program This program was initiated to provide monetary assistance to the neediest of students who wish to pursue a sound educational career. The candidate should be a resident of the state of Illinois and should be enrolled at a state college or university. Grant amounts are determined by the required level of monetary need, and the number of credit hours.
- Horatio Alger Idaho Scholarship Program This Scholarship program is for those students who have faced and overcome major physical, mental, or societal adversities. The candidate is supposed to be a resident of Illinois and should display the required levels of financial need. The student is also required to maintain good academic performance with a minimum of 2.0 GPA and will have to submit an essay, with a letter of support, and a statement of income.
Tourism
As much as Illinois is known for its major financial and educational centers, it is also an excellent place to simply enjoy and explore the popular and diverse cities, replete with the finest attractions and outdoor activities. It is also the state that first got a McDonald's and is undeniably a place known for famous foods like Chicago's deep dish pizzas, hot dogs, and horseshoe sandwiches. Being a Prairie state, Illinois is home to nature's abundant beauty in its prairies and woodlands such as The Lincoln Prairie Trail, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, The Illinois Prairie Path, Gensburg - Markham Prairie Nature Preserve, and a lot more.
Universities & Colleges in Illinois
*UG - Undergraduate
*G - Graduate
*in - In-state Fees
*out - Out-of-State Fees
- Recommended program (Top 250)
