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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 Bay Community College (MassBay)
Institution B
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Quick comparison
| Metric | Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay) | University of Massachusetts Amherst |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarships in catalog | 22 | 47 |
| Avg. award (where known) | $891 | $1,828 |
| Max award (index signal) | $4,000 | $5,000 |
| Open deadlines share | 100% | 17% |
| Merit vs need (approx.) | Merit 95.5% · Need 4.5% | Merit 55.3% · Need 44.7% |
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
offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending . The listed award is $4,000. Plan to apply by April 30, 2026.
Apr 30, 2026
today
6 requirements
Requirements
$4,000
Award Amount
The Dandley Internship Award
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 15, 2026.
Apr 15, 2026
deadline passed
9 requirements
Requirements
$5,000
Award Amount
Robert & Rosemary Murphy Scholarship
offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending . The listed award is $1,500. Plan to apply by April 30, 2026.
Apr 30, 2026
today
4 requirements
Requirements
$1,500
Award Amount
Patricia M. Sullivan Scholarship
offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending . The listed award is $4,000. Plan to apply by April 15, 2026.
Apr 15, 2026
deadline passed
6 requirements
Requirements
$4,000
Award Amount
Krystle Campbell Scholarship
offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending . The listed award is $1,000. Plan to apply by April 30, 2026.
Apr 30, 2026
today
5 requirements
Requirements
$1,000
Award Amount
The Scott J. Bacherman Internship Scholarship
offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending . The listed award is $3,500. Plan to apply by April 15, 2026.
Apr 15, 2026
deadline passed
9 requirements
Requirements
$3,500
Award Amount
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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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