Florida Bright Futures Program
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship is a State of Florida lottery-funded program to reward Florida high school graduates who demonstrate high academic achievement and enroll in eligible Florida postsecondary institutions.
Florida Bright Futures recipients will receive an award based upon their award level and credit hour type:
Florida Academic Scholar (FAS) - 100% of tuition and applicable fees and $300 for both fall and spring semesters for additional educational expenses
Academic Top Scholars (ATS) - fixed cost per credit hour
Florida Medallion Scholar (FMS) -100% for AA/AS programs, 75% for all other programs of tuition and applicable fees
Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar (GSV) - fixed cost per credit hour
Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars (GSC) - fixed cost per credit hour
The award amounts are determined by Florida Legislative session, and may vary from year to year. No books, supplies or college preparatory courses are paid by the Florida Bright Futures program. Only Florida Academic Scholars may use their rewards to purchase books and supplies.
How to Apply and Selection of Students
New Students
- High school seniors are selected to receive one of the scholarships if they meet initial eligibility requirements which include minimum SAT, ACT or PERT test scores, cumulative weighted high school grade point average, successful completion of specific high school coursework and completed volunteer service hours. PERT scores are only applicable to the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.
- High school students are also required to apply for the scholarship by submitting the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) to the Florida Department of Education Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) by the deadline.
- Upon graduation, high school graduates are responsible for tracking their application and award status online at floridastudentfinancialaid.org.
Eligibility
All Students must:
- Be a U.S. citizen, or eligible non-citizen
- Be a Florida resident as determined by the Admissions and Student Records office
- Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its equivalent from a Florida public high school or registered Florida Department of Education (FDOE) private high school; or complete a home education program.
- Enroll in an eligible degree or certificate program
- Enroll for at least six required credit hours per semester, required for the student's declared degree program, not to exceed 45 credit hours annually. Remedial (college preparatory) classes are not eligible. Students enrolled in one college credit course and one college preparatory course would not be eligible unless an additional college credit or technical course was added to their schedule.
- 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.
- Activate the award within five years of high school graduation