How should I compare undergraduate research funding at ASU and the University of Florida?

Do not choose between ASU and the University of Florida based on total university research funding alone; compare the funded pathways and faculty access in your intended major. Both are major research universities with formal undergraduate-research offices, but the opportunities you can realistically secure will depend much more on your department, campus location, and initiative. Before enrolling, identify several labs in your field at each school and check whether they regularly list undergraduates, paid assistants, or summer positions.

At ASU, start with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarships, which supports research matching, presentation opportunities, and undergraduate research programs across its campuses. Because ASU is large and distributed across multiple campuses, confirm where a prospective lab is based and whether you would be able to work there regularly.

At UF, the Center for Undergraduate Research is the key central resource. Ask whether first- and second-year students in your intended department commonly enter labs, since some opportunities may be easier to access after foundational coursework.

Compare four practical details: whether funding is a stipend, hourly employment, research credit, or reimbursement; whether it is open to first-years; whether you need a faculty mentor before applying; and how many terms or summers it can support. Email one or two faculty members or departmental undergraduate coordinators at each school with a specific question about recent undergraduate roles. A lab that routinely pays or mentors undergraduates in your area is more meaningful than a broad institutional funding label.