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MassBay vs UMass Amherst Scholarships Comparison 2026
Who is it for? Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay) may fit applicants prioritizing a heavily merit-oriented scholarship mix, while the University of Massachusetts Amherst may suit students seeking a broader balance of need-based and merit opportunities. UMass Amherst also shows more total grants and a higher average award amount in the provided data.
Institution A
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay)
Institution B
Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Quick comparison
Scholarships in catalog
Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay)
22
University of Massachusetts Amherst
47
Avg. award (where known)
Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay)
$891
University of Massachusetts Amherst
$1,828
Max award (index signal)
Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay)
$4,000
University of Massachusetts Amherst
$5,000
Open deadlines share
Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay)
0%
University of Massachusetts Amherst
0%
Merit vs need (approx.)
Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay)
Merit 95.5% / Need 4.5%
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Merit 55.3% / Need 44.7%
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 FMRMassachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay)
No public College Scorecard match for this school name and state.
University of Massachusetts Amherst
In-state tuition
$17,772
Annual, before aid
Out-of-state tuition
$40,449
Annual, before aid
Admission rate
59.7%
Completion rate
83.3%
Median earnings
$71,631
10 years after entry
Enrollment
23,671
Undergraduate headcount
Research and institution context
Public research indicators can help compare academic activity; they do not imply scholarship eligibility.
Works count
123,246
Citation count
10,858,878
NIH projects
2,890
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.
Amherst, MA | Springfield, MA
Latest rent estimate
$2,570
2026-04
12-mo rent change
+5.0%
Zillow ZORI
HUD 1BR FMR
$1,688
Planning estimate
HUD 2BR FMR
$2,161
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.
MassBay vs. UMass Amherst: 2026 scholarship snapshot
Based on the provided scholarship data, MassBay lists 22 grants, all currently open, with an average award of $890.91 and a maximum award of $4,000. Its scholarship mix is strongly merit-oriented: 95.5% merit-based and 4.5% need-based.
UMass Amherst lists 47 grants, with 9 currently open, an average award of $1,828.44, and a maximum award of $5,000. Its scholarship mix is more balanced than MassBay's, with 55.3% merit-based and 44.7% need-based opportunities.
For applicants comparing fit, MassBay appears more favorable for students targeting merit-heavy awards, while UMass Amherst may be more attractive for students who want access to both need-based and merit-based scholarship options. Average source credibility is similar in the dataset: 55 for MassBay and 58.09 for UMass Amherst.
Essay expectations
The dataset reports 0 essay_grant_count for both institutions, so no numeric essay-required count is confirmed here. However, linked scholarship essay topics suggest that both schools have essay-related guidance associated with multiple named awards. MassBay's linked themes lean toward career and community-focused scholarships such as biotechnology, cybersecurity, automotive technology, caregiving, and memorial scholarships. UMass Amherst's linked themes span departmental, creative, internship, study abroad, and memorial awards, indicating a wider variety of academic and co-curricular contexts.
Writing efforts
Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay)
MassBay has no confirmed essay-required grant count in the dataset (0 reported), but linked essay topics point to practical and field-specific themes, including biotechnology, cybersecurity, automotive technology, caregiving, and several memorial scholarships. That suggests writing, where applicable, may often connect personal background or career goals to applied programs and community impact.
University of Massachusetts Amherst
UMass Amherst also has no confirmed essay-required grant count in the dataset (0 reported), but linked essay topics cover departmental scholarships, creativity awards, internship funding, study abroad, and memorial scholarships. Compared with MassBay, the visible themes appear broader across academic disciplines and experiential learning areas.
Top grants by university
Largest active university-linked grants first. Each side shows the top three opportunities currently indexed for that school.
Debi Sodhani Foundation Scholarships
Business Management and Marketing students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $4,000 and a 04.30.26 deadline while planning eligibility fit and required materials.
The Internship Award
Communication and Journalism students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $5,000 and a 04.15.26 deadline while planning eligibility fit and required materials.
& Rosemary Murphy Scholarship
Education students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $1,500 and a 04.30.26 deadline while planning eligibility fit and required materials.
M. Sullivan Scholarship
Education students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $4,000 and a 04.15.26 deadline while planning eligibility fit and required materials.
& Jay Sarles Scholarship
Education students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $1,000 and a 04.30.26 deadline while planning eligibility fit and required materials.
The J. Bacherman Internship Scholarship
Communication and Journalism students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $3,500 and a 04.15.26 deadline while planning eligibility fit and required materials.
Match workspace
Find scholarships that fit your profile
FAQ
Which school has more scholarship opportunities in the provided data?
Which school has the higher average scholarship amount?
Which school is more need-based versus merit-based?
Are scholarships currently open at both schools?
Do the data confirm how many scholarships require 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 Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay) and University of Massachusetts Amherst, with extra scholarship context and essay-writing support.
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