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UMass Amherst vs University of South Florida Scholarships 2026
Who is it for? University of Massachusetts Amherst may suit applicants who want a larger overall pool of listed grants and a slightly higher merit-award share, while the University of South Florida may appeal to students prioritizing more currently open grants and a slightly higher need-based share. Average award size is very similar between the two schools based on the available scholarship data.
Institution A
Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Institution B
Florida
University of South Florida
Quick comparison
Scholarships in catalog
University of Massachusetts Amherst
47
University of South Florida
28
Avg. award (where known)
University of Massachusetts Amherst
$1,828
University of South Florida
$1,833
Max award (index signal)
University of Massachusetts Amherst
$5,000
University of South Florida
$6,000
Open deadlines share
University of Massachusetts Amherst
0%
University of South Florida
0%
Merit vs need (approx.)
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Merit 55.3% / Need 44.7%
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 OEWSUniversity 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.
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
Based on the available scholarship dataset, the University of Massachusetts Amherst lists 47 grants versus 28 at the University of South Florida. UMass Amherst also shows a slightly higher merit-based share at 55.3%, while USF shows a slightly higher need-based share at 46.4%.
Average award size is nearly identical: $1,828.44 at UMass Amherst and $1,833.33 at USF. The maximum listed award is higher at USF ($6,000) than at UMass Amherst ($5,000). For applicants focused on current opportunities, USF has more open grants in this dataset (13 versus 9).
On source quality within the dataset, UMass Amherst has a slightly higher average credibility score (58.09 versus 56.25). For essay planning, both schools show 0 essay grants in the structured essay field, but linked scholarship titles indicate many essay-oriented opportunities at both institutions, so applicants should still expect to prepare written materials for some awards.
Writing efforts
University of Massachusetts Amherst
For University of Massachusetts Amherst, the structured essay-grant count is 0 and essay field themes are not listed. However, linked scholarship titles repeatedly reference essay guidance, suggesting applicants may encounter writing prompts tied to scholarships across themes such as creativity, study abroad, history, financial need, and department-specific awards.
University of South Florida
For the University of South Florida, the structured essay-grant count is 0 and essay field themes are not listed. Still, linked scholarship titles suggest essay preparation may matter for awards connected to alumni groups, community service, music, LGBTQ+ identity, faculty/staff associations, and family- or donor-named scholarships.
Top grants by university
Largest active university-linked grants first. Each side shows the top three opportunities currently indexed for that school.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Not sure about the location?
Compare Massachusetts vs Florida scholarship markets to see how the broader state climate changes the funding picture.
FAQ
Which school has more scholarships listed in this dataset?
Which school has more open grants right now?
Are the average scholarship amounts very different?
Which school leans more toward merit aid versus need-based aid?
Should I expect to write scholarship essays at these schools?
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 University of Massachusetts Amherst and University of South Florida, with extra scholarship context and essay-writing support.
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