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Florida State University vs University of South Florida 2026
Who is it for? Florida State University may fit applicants who want a larger scholarship pool and a stronger merit-oriented mix, while the University of South Florida may appeal more to students prioritizing need-based aid and a higher maximum listed award. Both schools show evidence of essay-related scholarship themes through linked scholarship materials, even though the recorded essay grant count is 0 for each.
Institution A
Florida
Florida State University
Institution B
Florida
University of South Florida
Quick comparison
Scholarships in catalog
Florida State University
41
University of South Florida
28
Avg. award (where known)
Florida State University
$1,650
University of South Florida
$1,833
Max award (index signal)
Florida State University
$5,000
University of South Florida
$6,000
Open deadlines share
Florida State University
0%
University of South Florida
0%
Merit vs need (approx.)
Florida State University
Merit 68.3% / Need 31.7%
University of South Florida
Merit 53.6% / Need 46.4%
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.
University of South Florida
In-state tuition
$6,410
Annual, before aid
Out-of-state tuition
$17,324
Annual, before aid
Admission rate
43.2%
Completion rate
76.8%
Median earnings
$57,743
10 years after entry
Enrollment
37,207
Undergraduate headcount
Research and institution context
Public research indicators can help compare academic activity; they do not imply scholarship eligibility.
Works count
128,942
Citation count
7,855,736
NIH projects
3,940
NIH funding band
$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.
Tampa, FL | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Latest rent estimate
$1,951
2026-04
12-mo rent change
-1.1%
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 comparison overview
Florida State University lists 41 grants, with 37 currently open, compared with 28 grants and 13 open at the University of South Florida. Florida State shows a more merit-heavy split, with 68.3% merit and 31.7% need-based, while the University of South Florida shows 53.6% merit and 46.4% need-based. The average listed award is $1,650 at Florida State University and $1,833.33 at the University of South Florida. The maximum listed award is $5,000 at Florida State University and $6,000 at the University of South Florida.
On scholarship volume, Florida State University offers the broader set of opportunities in this dataset. On aid mix, the University of South Florida leans more toward need-based aid than Florida State University. For essay planning, both institutions have 0 recorded essay grants in the structured fields, but both include multiple scholarship-linked essay topics in the source links, suggesting applicants should still expect writing requirements on some opportunities.
Writing efforts
Florida State University
Florida State University has 0 recorded essay grants and no structured essay theme fields, but its linked scholarship titles indicate recurring writing prompts tied to alumni, club, memorial, leadership, and legacy-oriented scholarships.
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida also has 0 recorded essay grants and no structured essay theme fields, but linked scholarship titles point to essays connected to fellowships, alumni, community, LGBTQ+, ambassador, faculty/staff, and family-named scholarships.
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.
Burkette and Beth Burkette Family Scholarship
Education students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $6,000 and a 05.23.26 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.
Pat and Harvey Endowed Scholarship
Education students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $5,000 and a 05.16.26 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.
USF Allen Club Scholarship
Education students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $3,000 and a 05.16.26 deadline while planning eligibility fit and required materials.
Match workspace
Find scholarships that fit your profile
FAQ
Which school has more scholarship opportunities in this dataset?
Which school appears stronger for need-based aid?
Which school has the higher average and maximum listed award?
Do these schools require scholarship essays?
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 University of South Florida, with extra scholarship context and essay-writing support.
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