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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
The College of the Florida Keys
Institution B
University of South Florida
Quick comparison
| Metric | The College of the Florida Keys | University of South Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarships in catalog | 33 | 28 |
| Avg. award (where known) | $1,266 | $1,833 |
| Max award (index signal) | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| Open deadlines share | 85% | 46% |
| Merit vs need (approx.) | Merit 72.7% · Need 27.3% | Merit 53.6% · Need 46.4% |
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.
Edward B. Knight Rotary Club of Key West Vocational 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 June 1, 2026.
Jun 1, 2026
32 days left
6 requirements
Requirements
$4,000
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
Hemingway Look-Alike Society Kermit "Shine" Forbes Scholarship
offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending . The listed award is $2,500. Plan to apply by April 13, 2026.
Apr 13, 2026
deadline passed
5 requirements
Requirements
$2,500
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
Hemingway Look-Alike Society Scholarship
offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending . The listed award is $2,500. Plan to apply by April 13, 2026.
Apr 13, 2026
deadline passed
6 requirements
Requirements
$2,500
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
Get matched with scholarships in 2 minutes
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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