Figuring out how to pay for college without going into debt can feel daunting for a ton of students and families (we’d guess including you, since you’re here).
Part of the answer for Florida students can potentially be Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship Program—a way for you to get help paying for college, thanks to funding from the state. The program offers several scholarships with different amounts of money and requirements.
How do you qualify for a Bright Futures Scholarship?
What are the eligibility requirements for your GPA, test scores, and community service hours?
When and how should you apply?
Below, we’ll talk through all of those questions!
By the end, you’ll know exactly what you need to do to apply and what steps to take to qualify. You’ll also learn about some extra scholarships and grants for Florida students.
The Bright Futures Scholarship Program
The Bright Futures Scholarship Program is a state-sponsored scholarship system that rewards Florida high school graduates for academic achievement, and receives its funds from the Florida Lottery. So far, it has given scholarships to nearly one million students.
The program offers scholarships based on your high school grades and test scores. There are two main types of awards:
The Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) Award
The Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) Award
Each award has different requirements and covers a different percentage of your tuition:
Florida Academic Scholars
FAS covers 100% of your tuition and fees, including things like activity, health, and technology fees. You can even get funding for summer classes!
If you’re the top Florida Academic Scholar in your county, you’ll also get the Academic Top Scholars Award.
Florida Medallion Scholars
The FMS Award covers 75% of your tuition and fees. Just like the FAS, it includes all the same extra fees and gives you the option for summer funding.
Bright Futures Scholarship requirements and eligibility
What do you need to qualify for the Bright Futures Scholarship? Let’s look at the eligibility requirements for both the Florida Academic Scholars and Florida Medallion Scholars awards, as well as the requirements to renew your scholarship.
General requirements
Graduate high school from a Florida public high school with a standard Florida high school diploma; graduate from a registered Florida Department of Education private high school; earn a GED; complete a home education program; or graduate from a non-Florida high school if specific conditions are met.
Complete the required high school coursework.
Achieve the required minimum high school GPA. (see table below)
Achieve the required minimum ACT, CLT, or SAT college entrance exam score (see table below). Tests are accepted through August 31 of the high school graduation year.
Complete the required number of volunteer service and/or paid work hours. (see table below)
Submit the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) no later than August 31 after your high school graduation.
Renewal requirements
As a Bright Futures Scholarship recipient, you’ll automatically be evaluated for scholarship renewal at the end of the academic year.
However, there are some requirements to remain eligible:
Minimum cumulative GPA requirements
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) - 3.0
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) - 2.75
Florida Academic Scholars with a 2.75-2.99 GPA at the end of the renewal period will
renew as Florida Medallion Scholars. However, raising your GPA above 3.0 during a future renewal period can restore your FAS status using a one-time restoration opportunity.
Annual credit hour requirements
To renew your Bright Futures award each year, you must complete at least 24 semester hours if you’re enrolled full-time for both semesters. If you’re not enrolled full-time in both semesters, the required hours will be adjusted based on your enrollment.
| Renewal Requirements | Florida Academic Scholars Award | Florida Medallion Scholars Award |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Hours Required Per Term, if funded Full-Time (12+ hours) | 12 semester hours earned | 12 semester hours earned |
| Minimum Hours Required Per Term, if funded Three-quarter Time (9-11 hours) | 9 semester hours earned | 9 semester hours earned |
| Minimum Hours Required Per Term, if funded Half-Time (6-8 hours) | 6 semester hours earned | 6 semester hours earned |
Bright Futures Scholarship for grad students
If you’re a Bright Futures Scholarship recipient and graduate with your bachelor’s degree, you may qualify for funding for one semester of graduate study. This funding covers up to 15 semester hours at the undergraduate rate if you meet these requirements:
You complete your bachelor’s degree within seven semesters or in 105 semester hours or fewer.
You still have time remaining in your scholarship program.
Bright Futures Scholarship application
To apply for the Bright Futures Scholarship, you’ll need to submit the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) by August 31 of the year you graduate from high school.
Here are some key things to keep in mind when applying:
Even if you haven’t met all eligibility requirements yet or are planning to attend college out-of-state, completing this application on time is important. If you miss the deadline, you won’t be able to receive the scholarship.
All eligibility requirements must be met by high school graduation, but ACT, CLT, and SAT scores taken through August 31 are accepted for evaluation.
Once you’ve submitted the FFAA, you’ll be responsible for tracking your application status online. Make sure to keep the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) at the Florida Department of Education updated on any changes to your contact information or school.
To confirm your scholarship funding, contact your school’s financial aid office. They’ll help ensure everything is set up for you to get your scholarship.
Other scholarships and grants for Florida students
If you’re looking for more ways to fund your education, here are some additional scholarships and grants just for Florida students.
Benacquisto Scholarship
The Benacquisto Scholarship Program is a merit-based scholarship for high school graduates recognized as National Merit Scholars. If you qualify, you’ll receive an award that covers your in-state college costs minus any funding you receive from Bright Futures and the National Merit award.
Florida Farmworker Student Scholarship
The Florida Farmworker Student Scholarship (FFSS) Program is a need-based merit scholarship that helps up to 50 eligible students who are farmworkers or children of farmworkers, as defined by Florida law. If you qualify, you’ll receive an award that covers your tuition and specified fees at a public college or university.
José Martí Scholarship
The José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund is a need-based merit scholarship for eligible students of Hispanic origin who plan to attend a Florida public or eligible private institution. If you qualify, you’ll receive an annual award of $2,000, split into $1,000 per semester.
Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans
The Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans (CSDDV) provides funding to dependent children or un-remarried spouses of qualified Florida veterans. If you qualify, you can receive funding for up to 110% of the required credit hours needed to complete your first bachelor’s degree or certificate program.
Final thoughts
The Bright Futures Scholarship Program is a fantastic opportunity for Florida students to get financial help for college. If you’re eligible, it can cover a large portion of your tuition and fees, making college more affordable.
Do you want to learn more ways to pay for college without breaking the bank? Check out this fantastic resource next: Crash Course on How to Pay for College (Using as Little of Your Own Money as Possible)
Special thanks to Ameer Drane for writing this blog.
Ameer Drane is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about college admissions and career development. Prior to freelancing, Ameer worked for three years as a college admissions consultant at a Hong Kong-based education center, helping local high school students prepare and apply for top colleges and universities in the US. He has a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in Spanish Linguistics from UCLA. When he’s not working, Ameer loves traveling, weight lifting, writing, reading, and learning foreign languages. He currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
Top values: Growth / Diversity / Empathy
