The financial support an incoming student receives can be a major factor in their choice of university. Scholarships play a vital role in many students' college experiences, and the 51在线 (USF) prides itself on offering competitive opportunities for in-state, out-of-state, and international students. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranked USF as the best value among 51在线 universities, and in 2024, .
Scholarships Designed for Honors Students
The USF Judy Genshaft Honors College provides exclusive scholarships for both prospective
and current students. Every incoming Honors student qualifies for two $600 scholarships
upon fulfilling an experiential learning requirement, which encourages engagement in community service, leadership, creative pursuits,
or global initiatives. Additionally, students can receive an $800 scholarship upon
completing their Honors academic requirements, including an Honors thesis or capstone project.
In addition to this $2,000 scholarship awarded upon meeting Honors degree graduation requirements, students can apply for study abroad scholarships and other unique funding opportunities.
Last year, the Honors College awarded over $1 million in scholarships, with $150,000
being additional scholarships distributed through , the university-wide scholarship portal that matches students with funding opportunities.
Getting the Most out of the Honors Experience
Nora Wolfgang and Whitney Louis discuss their experiences applying for scholarships in the Honors music room.
For many students, balancing scholarship applications with a busy schedule can be challenging. However, Honors students Nora Wolfgang and Whitney Louis found that dedicating just a little time each day to researching, planning, or crafting a compelling essay created opportunities to study abroad and alleviate financial concerns.
鈥淢y favorite experience at USF was studying abroad. I had the chance to study in London and Transylvania,鈥� Wolfgang said. 鈥淚 made lifelong friends and had opportunities I never thought possible.鈥�
Wolfgang studied abroad twice after receiving the Genshaft Global Scholarship, now the Genspiration Global Explorer鈥檚 Scholarship, a merit-based award worth up to $10,000. They also earned the Honors Wittcoff Family Scholarship, a competitive, renewable award available to all Honors students, by submitting a compelling short essay response.
鈥淔or the Wittcoff scholarship, the prompt was 鈥業s life a dancer or a wrestler?鈥欌�� they said. 鈥淗aving competed in dance for 18 years, I was able to write about something deeply personal 鈥� how my passion for dance shaped my life.鈥�
Navigating the Application Process
Louis encourages students applying for scholarships to focus on personal growth and involvement.
鈥淓njoy the college experience and get involved,鈥� Louis said. 鈥淵ou may not have a 4.0 GPA while doing all the extracurriculars, but college is about becoming a well-rounded person.鈥�
Involvement on campus can also help students write authentic, personal essays. Wolfgang emphasized the importance of staying true to yourself in scholarship applications.
鈥淏e authentic. That鈥檚 what makes you stand out and unique,鈥� Wolfgang said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 just write what you think they want to hear.鈥�
Marco Nardiello, advancement administrator for the Honors College, reviews all scholarship essays submitted through AwardSpring. After reading countless essays over the years, he encourages students to be creative and incorporate personal experiences when responding to scholarship essay prompts.
鈥淏e different, be unique in your essay, and be yourself,鈥� Nardiello said. 鈥淧utting yourself out there and taking a risk, even if your joke doesn鈥檛 land, is better than writing about what 50 other kids wrote about. If you're going to fail, fail big 鈥� or maybe you'll win big.鈥�
Investing in Students鈥� Futures
The Judy Genshaft Honors College attracts students with a natural curiosity and a drive to go beyond a traditional four-year college experience through research, extracurricular involvement, and global exploration. Dean Charles Adams believes that providing diverse scholarship opportunities reflects the college鈥檚 commitment to fostering student success.
鈥淎t the Judy Genshaft Honors College, we are committed to fostering a culture of exploration, creativity, and academic excellence. Our scholarships not only support students financially but also empower them to pursue transformative experiences 鈥� whether through global study, research, or leadership,鈥� Dean Adams said. 鈥淪tudents like Nora and Whitney exemplify the power of curiosity and authenticity, demonstrating that when you invest in your passions, there are plenty of opportunities for growth.鈥�
Judy Genshaft Honors College scholarships are open now on AwardSpring and will close March 17, 2025. Don鈥檛 wait 鈥�