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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 State University
Institution B
University of South Florida
Quick comparison
| Metric | Florida State University | University of South Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarships in catalog | 41 | 28 |
| Avg. award (where known) | $1,650 | $1,833 |
| Max award (index signal) | $5,000 | $6,000 |
| Open deadlines share | 90% | 46% |
| Merit vs need (approx.) | Merit 68.3% · Need 31.7% | Merit 53.6% · Need 46.4% |
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 Alumni Ambassadors Scholarship
offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending . The listed award is $5,000. Plan to apply by April 17, 2026.
Apr 17, 2026
deadline passed
5 requirements
Requirements
$5,000
Award Amount
Dorothy Burkette and Beth Burkette Family Scholarship
offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending . The listed award is $6,000. Plan to apply by May 23, 2026.
May 23, 2026
23 days left
8 requirements
Requirements
$6,000
Award Amount
College of Arts and Sciences Study Abroad Award - Spring Semester Abroad
offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending . The listed award is $4,000. Plan to apply by June 18, 2026.
Jun 18, 2026
49 days left
6 requirements
Requirements
$4,000
Award Amount
Pat and Frank Harvey Endowed Scholarship
offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending . The listed award is $5,000. Plan to apply by May 16, 2026.
May 16, 2026
16 days left
6 requirements
Requirements
$5,000
Award Amount
College of Medicine Alumni Relations Scholarship
offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending . The listed award is $2,000. Plan to apply by June 15, 2026.
Jun 15, 2026
46 days left
5 requirements
Requirements
$2,000
Award Amount
USF Grace Allen Club Scholarship
offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending . The listed award is $3,000. Plan to apply by May 16, 2026.
May 16, 2026
16 days left
8 requirements
Requirements
$3,000
Award Amount
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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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