Bright Futures Scholarships: Florida Student Scholarship & Grants Program
The Bright Futures program is an incredible chance for Floridians to earn a full journey to college. But apart from being a well-paying opportunity, it is very competitive and has a strict set of requirements. The requirements outlined in the Bright Futures Guide can be overwhelming and discourage students from applying. So we’ve done the hard work for you and made the requirements more readable. Read on to learn all about the Bright Futures Scholarship Requirements.
General Requirements
• Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, as determined by the student’s
Postsecondary institution.
• Complete the FFAA no later than August 31 after high school graduation.
• Earn a standard Florida high school diploma, or its equivalent, from a Florida public high school or a registered Florida Department of Education (FDOE) private high school; or complete a home education program.
• Not have been found guilty of, or pled nolo contendere to, a felony charge, unless the student has been granted clemency by the Governor and Cabinet sitting as the Executive Office of Clemency.
• Be accepted by, and enroll in a degree or certificate program at, an eligible Florida public or independent postsecondary institution.
• Be enrolled for at least six non-remedial semester credit hours (or the equivalent in quarter or clock hours) per term.
• If not funded in the academic year immediately following high school graduation, apply within five years of high school graduation to have your award reinstated.
Specific Requirements for Scholarships
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS)
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS)
Florida high school students who wish to qualify for the Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) award or the Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) award must meet the following initial eligibility requirements:
• Graduate high school from a Florida public high school with a standard Florida high school diploma (high school graduation requirements), 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 (OOS);
• Complete the required high school coursework;
• Achieve the required minimum high school grade point average (GPA);
• Achieve the required minimum score on either the ACT® or SAT® college entrance exam; and • Complete the required number of service hours.
Alternative methods to qualify for FAS and FMS Scholarships
Students who don’t meet the test necessities listed above might also additionally nonetheless be eligible for the FAS or FMS. If you acquired any of the following awards, you’re exempt from testing requirements:
- National Merit Finalist and Scholars
- National Hispanic Scholars
- Advanced International Certificate of Education
- International Baccalaureate Diploma
What ACT score is required for Bright Futures Scholarship?
Each Bright Futures Scholarship has a different minimum ACT score and may be substituted for a qualifying SAT score if applicable. The Florida Academic Scholars Award requires a minimum of 29 on the ACT while the Florida Medallion Scholars program requires a minimum of 25.
Bright Futures Program Differences
If you meet all of the above requirements, congratulations! You may be in the running for a Bright Futures scholarship. Our next step will be to provide an overview of each Bright Futures program. We will show you how high the winning amounts are and what pedagogical references they are intended for. Once you’ve found the right one for you, read on to learn the requirements for each program.
Florida Academic Scholars
The Florida Academic Scholars program offers 100% funding for a public degree program. This includes all applicable tuition and fees. Students who choose to attend a private institution receive a comparable award, but this may not cover the full cost. Winners will also receive $300 per semester for additional educational expenses. This is the most competitive Bright Futures program and has the highest requirements.
Florida Medallion Scholars
The Florida Medallion Scholars program provides 75% of the funding for a public study program. This includes 75% of all applicable tuition and fees. Students who choose a private institution will receive an equivalent award but may not cover the full 75%. This program is less competitive than the Florida Academic Scholars program. So if you don’t qualify for Florida Academic Scholars, you can still cover 75% of your costs.
Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars
The Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars program provides a fixed payment per credit hour that varies by degree program. The program is aimed at students who have already received an associate degree and are aiming for a bachelor’s degree. This program is less competitive than Florida MedallionScholars and Florida Medallion Scholars. Your GPA and test score requirements are less stringent. Here is a summary of the scholarship amounts you can expect from the
Scholarship depends on your field of study.
Florida Gold Seal Vocational Students
The Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars program offers a fixed payment per credit hour that varies by program. This program is designed for students pursuing a professional certificate or degree. It has lower GPA and test score requirements than Florida Academic Scholars and Florida Medallion Scholars. The structure of award amounts for the program is set out in the table above.
