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University of South Florida vs Waubonsee Community College 2026
Who is it for? This comparison is for students weighing options between a large university and a community college. USF offers more merit aid, while Waubonsee has a higher number of available grants.
Institution A
University of South Florida
Institution B
Waubonsee Community College
Quick comparison
| Metric | University of South Florida | Waubonsee Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarships in catalog | 28 | 156 |
| Avg. award (where known) | $1,833 | $953 |
| Max award (index signal) | $6,000 | $3,500 |
| Open deadlines share | 46% | 100% |
| Merit vs need (approx.) | Merit 53.6% · Need 46.4% | Merit 61.5% · Need 38.5% |
Financial Aid Overview
The University of South Florida (USF) and Waubonsee Community College present distinct financial aid opportunities for prospective students. USF offers a higher average merit aid amount of $1,833 compared to Waubonsee's $953. Both institutions have different focuses in their aid distribution, with USF providing 46.4% need-based aid and Waubonsee offering 38.5%. Additionally, Waubonsee has a significantly larger number of grants available, with 156 open grants compared to USF's 13.
Writing efforts
University of South Florida
USF's essay themes focus on crafting compelling narratives for specific scholarships, emphasizing personal storytelling.
Waubonsee Community College
Waubonsee's essay themes also encourage personal storytelling but cover a broader range of scholarship opportunities.
Top grants by university
Largest active university-linked grants first. Each side shows the top three opportunities currently indexed for that school.
Dorothy Burkette and Beth Burkette Family Scholarship
University of South Florida offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending University of South Florida. The listed award is $6,000. Plan to apply by May 23, 2026.
May 23, 2026
35 days left
8 requirements
Requirements
$6,000
Award Amount
Sipes Family Nursing Scholarship
Waubonsee Community College offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending Waubonsee Community College. The listed award is $3,500. Plan to apply by May 4, 2026.
May 4, 2026
16 days left
7 requirements
Requirements
$3,500
Award Amount
Pat and Frank Harvey Endowed Scholarship
University of South Florida offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending University of South Florida. The listed award is $5,000. Plan to apply by May 16, 2026.
May 16, 2026
28 days left
6 requirements
Requirements
$5,000
Award Amount
Weldstar Annual Scholarship
Waubonsee Community College offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending Waubonsee Community College. The listed award is $2,500. Plan to apply by May 4, 2026.
May 4, 2026
16 days left
6 requirements
Requirements
$2,500
Award Amount
USF Grace Allen Club Scholarship
University of South Florida offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending University of South Florida. The listed award is $3,000. Plan to apply by May 16, 2026.
May 16, 2026
28 days left
8 requirements
Requirements
$3,000
Award Amount
Waubonsee Community College Faculty Council Awards Endowed Academic Scholarship
Waubonsee Community College offers this scholarship to help cover education costs. It is geared toward students attending Waubonsee Community College. The listed award is $2,500. Plan to apply by May 4, 2026.
May 4, 2026
16 days left
6 requirements
Requirements
$2,500
Award Amount
Not sure about the location?
Compare Florida vs Illinois scholarship markets to see how the broader state climate changes the funding picture.
FAQ
What percentage of students receive need-based aid at USF?
How much average merit aid can I expect from Waubonsee?
How many open grants are available at Waubonsee?
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 South Florida and Waubonsee Community College, with extra scholarship context and essay-writing support.
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Related essay guides
- How to Write an Effective Essay for the Kathryn Lacy Scholarship
A step-by-step guide to crafting your essay for the Kathryn Lacy Memorial Scholarship at Waubonsee Community College.
- How to Craft Your Essay for the Midas of Naperville Scholarship
A step-by-step guide to writing a compelling scholarship essay for the Midas of Naperville Scholarship at Waubonsee Community College.
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