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Nova Southeastern University vs UMass Amherst Scholarships 2026

Who is it for? This comparison is for students seeking financial aid options at Nova Southeastern University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. NSU offers a higher percentage of need-based aid, while UMass Amherst has a stronger merit-based aid program.

University vs University

Institution A

Florida

Nova Southeastern University

Institution B

Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Quick comparison

Scholarships in catalog

Nova Southeastern University

34

University of Massachusetts Amherst

47

Avg. award (where known)

Nova Southeastern University

$1,500

University of Massachusetts Amherst

$1,828

Max award (index signal)

Nova Southeastern University

$2,000

University of Massachusetts Amherst

$5,000

Open deadlines share

Nova Southeastern University

0%

University of Massachusetts Amherst

0%

Merit vs need (approx.)

Nova Southeastern University

Merit 35.3% / Need 64.7%

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

Research activity comparison

Public research indicators can help compare academic activity; they do not imply scholarship eligibility.

City rent and wage comparison

Public rent and wage estimates can help compare cost of attendance and relocation planning.

Nova Southeastern University

In-state tuition

$38,700

Annual, before aid

Out-of-state tuition

$38,700

Annual, before aid

Admission rate

73.2%

Completion rate

63.3%

Median earnings

$59,209

10 years after entry

Enrollment

7,240

Undergraduate headcount

Research and institution context

Public research indicators can help compare academic activity; they do not imply scholarship eligibility.

Works count

22,340

Citation count

829,276

NIH projects

306

NIH funding band

$50M-$250M

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.

Fort Lauderdale, FL | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL

Latest rent estimate

$2,737

2026-04

12-mo rent change

+2.7%

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 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.

Financial Aid Overview

In 2026, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) provides a significant amount of financial aid, with 64.7% of students receiving need-based assistance and an average grant amount of $1,500, capped at $2,000. In contrast, the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) offers a more merit-based approach, with 55.3% of students receiving merit aid and an average grant amount of approximately $1,828, with a maximum of $5,000. This indicates a distinct strategy in how each institution supports its students financially.

Writing efforts

Nova Southeastern University

NSU has a variety of essay themes related to scholarships, focusing on personal narratives and community involvement.

University of Massachusetts Amherst

UMass also emphasizes personal storytelling in its scholarship essays, with themes that encourage applicants to reflect on their academic journey and aspirations.

Final verdict explanation

This “Final verdict explanation” frames 2026 readiness when applicants compare admits between Nova Southeastern University and University of Massachusetts Amherst but matchup prose skews abbreviated. Catalog columns quantify about 34 scholarships indexed today for listings commonly associated with Nova Southeastern University versus about 47 scholarships indexed today for listings commonly associated with University of Massachusetts Amherst 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.

NEW

Tate Scholarship

Education students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $2,000 and a 05.01.26 deadline while planning eligibility fit and required materials.

Best for: Education students

05.01.26

deadline passed

$2,000

Award Amount

EducationFew RequirementsFinancial NeedHigh School SeniorHigh SchoolUndergraduateGraduateGPA 2.0+FLFlorida

View all scholarships from this university →

NEW

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.

Best for: Communication and Journalism students

04.15.26

deadline passed

$5,000

Award Amount

EducationFew RequirementsFinancial NeedUndergraduateGraduateGPA 3.0+MAMassachusetts

View all scholarships from this university →

NEW

Dr. Rick , APR Changing Lives Scholarship

Biological and Biomedical Sciences students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of $1,000 and a 05.01.26 deadline while planning eligibility fit and required materials.

Best for: Biological and Biomedical Sciences students

05.01.26

deadline passed

$1,000

Award Amount

ArtsSTEMBiologyFew RequirementsFinancial NeedGraduateGPA 2.0+

View all scholarships from this university →

NEW

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.

Best for: Education students

04.15.26

deadline passed

$4,000

Award Amount

STEMFew RequirementsUndergraduateGraduateGPA 3.0+MAMassachusetts

View all scholarships from this university →

NEW

Group Endowed Scholarship

Business Management and Marketing students can compare this scholarship with a listed award of Amount Varies and a 05.01.26 deadline while planning eligibility fit and required materials.

Best for: Business Management and Marketing students

05.01.26

deadline passed

Amount Varies

Award Amount

EducationFew RequirementsFinancial NeedUndergraduateGraduate

View all scholarships from this university →

NEW

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.

Best for: Communication and Journalism students

04.15.26

deadline passed

$3,500

Award Amount

EducationFew RequirementsFinancial NeedUndergraduateGraduateGPA 3.0+MAMassachusetts

View all scholarships from this university →

Match workspace

Find scholarships that fit your profile

Find My Scholarships

Compare Florida vs Massachusetts scholarship markets to see how the broader state climate changes the funding picture.

FAQ

What percentage of students receive need-based aid at NSU?
64.7% of students at Nova Southeastern University receive need-based aid.
What is the maximum scholarship amount available at UMass Amherst?
The maximum scholarship amount at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is $5,000.
How does the merit aid percentage compare between NSU and UMass?
NSU offers 35.3% merit aid, while UMass provides 55.3% merit aid.
Are there any specific essay themes for scholarships at NSU?
Yes, NSU has multiple essay themes focusing on personal experiences and community service.

Sources and official pages

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

Internal reading paths for students comparing Nova Southeastern University and University of Massachusetts Amherst, with extra scholarship context and essay-writing support.