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Florida State University vs The College of the Florida Keys 2026
Who is it for? This comparison is for students weighing options between Florida State University and The College of the Florida Keys, focusing on scholarship opportunities and essay requirements.
Institution A
Florida
Florida State University
Institution B
Florida
The College of the Florida Keys
Quick comparison
Scholarships in catalog
Florida State University
41
The College of the Florida Keys
33
Avg. award (where known)
Florida State University
$1,650
The College of the Florida Keys
$1,266
Max award (index signal)
Florida State University
$5,000
The College of the Florida Keys
$4,000
Open deadlines share
Florida State University
0%
The College of the Florida Keys
0%
Merit vs need (approx.)
Florida State University
Merit 68.3% / Need 31.7%
The College of the Florida Keys
Merit 72.7% / Need 27.3%
Public reference data
College cost & outcomes
Official-style college facts matched by school name and state. These figures are separate from ScholarshipTop scholarship totals in the comparison table above.
Visual comparison
In-state tuition
Annual, before aidOut-of-state tuition
Annual, before aidMedian earnings
10 years after entryCompletion rate
Share completing within timeAdmission rate
Share admittedResearch activity comparison
Public research indicators can help compare academic activity; they do not imply scholarship eligibility.
Works count
OpenAlexCitation count
OpenAlexNIH projects
NIH RePORTER aggregateCity rent and wage comparison
Public rent and wage estimates can help compare cost of attendance and relocation planning.
Latest rent estimate
Zillow ZORIHUD 1BR FMR
HUD FMRHUD 2BR FMR
HUD FMRMedian wage
BLS OEWSFlorida State University
In-state tuition
$5,656
Annual, before aid
Out-of-state tuition
$18,786
Annual, before aid
Admission rate
24.2%
Completion rate
85.6%
Median earnings
$61,675
10 years after entry
Enrollment
32,212
Undergraduate headcount
Research and institution context
Public research indicators can help compare academic activity; they do not imply scholarship eligibility.
Works count
109,747
Citation count
8,332,528
NIH projects
2,527
NIH funding band
$250M-$1B
Public research indicators are available from OpenAlex and NIH RePORTER aggregates.
City rent and wage context
Public rent and wage estimates can help compare cost of attendance and relocation planning.
Tallahassee, FL | Tallahassee, FL
Latest rent estimate
$1,533
2026-04
12-mo rent change
+3.0%
Zillow ZORI
HUD 1BR FMR
$1,238
Planning estimate
HUD 2BR FMR
$1,459
Planning estimate
- Public metro rent estimates are available for relocation and cost-of-attendance planning; local lease costs can vary within the metro area.
The College of the Florida Keys
In-state tuition
$3,276
Annual, before aid
Out-of-state tuition
$13,162
Annual, before aid
Completion rate
34.1%
Median earnings
$42,508
10 years after entry
Enrollment
1,012
Undergraduate headcount
City rent and wage context
Public rent and wage estimates can help compare cost of attendance and relocation planning.
Key West, FL | Key West, FL
Latest rent estimate
$3,452
2026-04
12-mo rent change
+0.6%
Zillow ZORI
HUD 1BR FMR
$1,238
Planning estimate
HUD 2BR FMR
$1,459
Planning estimate
- Public metro rent estimates are available for relocation and cost-of-attendance planning; local lease costs can vary within the metro area.
Sources: College Scorecard, OpenAlex, and ROR where matched. Figures may lag the current academic year; verify on the institution site.
Reference only - not ScholarshipTop eligibility rules or guarantees.
Data availability varies by school, city, state, and source year.
Scholarship Overview
Florida State University (FSU) offers a higher percentage of merit-based aid at 68.3%, compared to The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) at 72.7%. FSU's average scholarship amount is $1,650, while CFK's is slightly lower at $1,266. FSU has a total of 41 grants available, with 37 currently open, whereas CFK has 33 grants with 28 open. Both institutions provide opportunities for students to apply for scholarships, although FSU has a broader range of themes for essay submissions.
Writing efforts
Florida State University
Florida State University offers a variety of essay themes related to specific scholarships, encouraging applicants to tailor their submissions to the scholarship's focus.
The College of the Florida Keys
The College of the Florida Keys also has specific essay themes but appears to have fewer options compared to FSU, which may limit the scope for applicants to showcase their unique experiences.
Final verdict explanation
This “Final verdict explanation” frames 2026 readiness when applicants compare admits between Florida State University and The College of the Florida Keys but matchup prose skews abbreviated. Catalog columns quantify about 41 scholarships indexed today for listings commonly associated with Florida State University versus about 33 scholarships indexed today for listings commonly associated with The College of the Florida Keys with shared ingestion logic so merit-versus-need mixes, openness of deadlines surfaced in-catalog, indexed award placeholders, or coaching guardrails interpret consistently. Treat them as directional triage—they never substitute registrar-validated ledger lines documenting endowed riders, departmental supplements, tuition waivers, Honors stackability, or athletic aid interplay beyond Title IV packaged awards.
Whenever narrative prose feels thin beside detailed tables, pair this matchup with Matches browsing, internationally inclusive corridors, streamlined application corridors, evergreen essay tooling, evergreen resource pillars, and citations listed below inside this page. Continue reconciling FAFSA outputs, institutional notifications, and enrollment contracts with campus counsel until net price matches commitments for 2026 and successive terms; ScholarshipTop catalogs and hubs illuminate workflows but never replace fiduciary advice tied to admitted-student paperwork.
Top grants by university
Largest active university-linked grants first. Each side shows the top three opportunities currently indexed for that school.
FSU Ambassadors Scholarship
Education students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $5,000 and a 04.17.26 deadline while planning eligibility fit and required materials.
B. Knight Rotary Club of Key West Vocational Scholarship
Education students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $4,000 and a 06.01.26 deadline while planning eligibility fit and required materials.
College of Arts and Study Abroad Award - Spring Semester Abroad
Education students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $4,000 and a 06.18.26 deadline while planning eligibility fit and required materials.
Look-Alike Society Kermit "Shine" Forbes Scholarship
Education students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $2,500 and a 04.13.26 deadline while planning eligibility fit and required materials.
College of Alumni Relations Scholarship
Education students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $2,000 and a 06.15.26 deadline while planning eligibility fit and required materials.
Look-Alike Society Scholarship
Education students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $2,500 and a 04.13.26 deadline while planning eligibility fit and required materials.
Match workspace
Find scholarships that fit your profile
FAQ
What is the average scholarship amount at Florida State University?
How many grants are available at The College of the Florida Keys?
What percentage of aid at Florida State University is merit-based?
Are there specific essay themes for scholarships at both institutions?
Sources and official pages
Official university and high-authority pages used to support this comparison.
- Federal Student Aid (U.S. Department of Education) - government reference
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) - government reference
- NCES College Navigator - government reference
- Peterson’s College Search - high-authority reference
More guides around this comparison
Internal reading paths for students comparing Florida State University and The College of the Florida Keys, with extra scholarship context and essay-writing support.
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