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The College of the Florida Keys vs USF Scholarships 2026
Who is it for? The College of the Florida Keys may fit applicants seeking a smaller scholarship set with a stronger merit tilt and more currently open grants. The University of South Florida may fit students who want a higher need-based share and a higher average and maximum award among the listed scholarships.
Institution A
Florida
The College of the Florida Keys
Institution B
Florida
University of South Florida
Quick comparison
Scholarships in catalog
The College of the Florida Keys
33
University of South Florida
28
Avg. award (where known)
The College of the Florida Keys
$1,266
University of South Florida
$1,833
Max award (index signal)
The College of the Florida Keys
$4,000
University of South Florida
$6,000
Open deadlines share
The College of the Florida Keys
0%
University of South Florida
0%
Merit vs need (approx.)
The College of the Florida Keys
Merit 72.7% / Need 27.3%
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 OEWSThe 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.
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.
2026 scholarship comparison overview
The College of the Florida Keys lists 33 grants, with 28 currently open. Its scholarship mix is 27.3% need-based and 72.7% merit-based, with an average award of $1,266 and a maximum listed award of $4,000. The University of South Florida lists 28 grants, with 13 currently open. Its mix is 46.4% need-based and 53.6% merit-based, with an average award of $1,833.33 and a maximum listed award of $6,000.
For applicants comparing aid strategy, CFK appears more merit-oriented, while USF shows a more balanced split with a larger need-based share. Both schools show similar average credibility scores in the provided data: 56.21 for CFK and 56.25 for USF. Essay-specific grant counts are listed as 0 for both institutions, so there is no direct essay-required count available in the dataset.
What this means for applicants
If you are prioritizing the number of currently open opportunities, CFK has more open grants in this dataset. If you are prioritizing larger listed awards, USF has the higher average and maximum scholarship amount. Because both institutions include many scholarship titles tied to essay guidance links, applicants should still be prepared to write tailored responses even though the essay_grant_count field is 0 for both schools.
Writing efforts
The College of the Florida Keys
The College of the Florida Keys has no recorded essay_grant_count in the dataset, but its linked scholarship essay topics suggest recurring themes in nursing, marine science, STEM, law enforcement, foundation support, memorial scholarships, and need-based opportunities. Based on the titles alone, applicants may need to tailor essays to program-specific and donor-specific contexts.
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida also has no recorded essay_grant_count in the dataset, but its linked essay topics point to themes such as fellowships, alumni support, community service, music, LGBTQ+ support, ambassador roles, faculty/staff association awards, and family- or donor-named scholarships. Based on the titles alone, applicants may face a broader mix of identity, service, and community-focused prompts.
Top grants by university
Largest active university-linked grants first. Each side shows the top three opportunities currently indexed for that school.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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FAQ
Which school has more scholarships currently open?
Which school offers larger scholarship amounts?
Is one school more need-based than the other?
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 The College of the Florida Keys and University of South Florida, with extra scholarship context and essay-writing support.
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