Everything You Need to Know About Florida's Bright Futures Scholarship

Let’s dive into something super exciting for anyone planning to attend college in the Sunshine State: the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. This state-funded program is designed to reward high school students for their academic achievements with some pretty sweet scholarships. Here’s the lowdown on what you need to know.

What is the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program?

The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is a fantastic initiative funded by the state of Florida. It provides scholarships based on how well students perform academically in high school. Think of it as a reward for all those late-night study sessions and hard-earned grades!

The Different Award Levels

There are two main levels of awards in the Bright Futures program, each with its own set of criteria and benefits. You can find more information on that here, or check out the breakdown below:

1. Florida Academic Scholars (FAS)

Award Amount: Covers 100% of tuition and applicable fees.
Applicable Fees Include: Activity and service fee, health fee, athletic fee, financial aid fee, capital improvement fee, campus access/transportation fee, technology fee, and tuition differential fee.
Additional Perks: FAS recipients are also eligible for summer awards, which means they can take summer classes without worrying about tuition!

2. Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS)

Award Amount: Covers 75% of tuition and applicable fees.
Applicable Fees Include: Activity and service fee, health fee, athletic fee, financial aid fee, capital improvement fee, campus access/transportation fee, technology fee, and tuition differential fee.
Additional Perks: Just like FAS, FMS recipients can also receive summer awards.

Eligibility Criteria & How to Apply

Eligibility Criteria

You must: Be a Florida resident, and a US Citizen or eligible noncitizen as determined by a student’s postsecondary institution. Regardless of where your parents live, as long as you are a Florida resident, you are eligible. Earn a diploma from a Florida high school or high school equivalent.

When to Apply

Students must submit a completed Florida Financial Aid Application during their last year in high school. The application window opens after October 1 and must be submitted no later than August 31 after graduation. So, mark your calendars!

Do You Need to Submit a FAFSA?

Nope, you don’t need to submit a FAFSA® (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to be eligible for Bright Futures. However, it’s a good idea to fill it out anyway. Why? Because it might open doors to additional state and federal aid that you didn’t even know you were eligible for.

Academic Criteria

The specific academic criteria for FAS and FMS can be found on the Florida Bright Futures Program website. Generally, it includes a mix of GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and required coursework. Tests are accepted through August 31 of the student’s graduation year (or through January 31 for mid-year graduates). Make sure to check it out to see where you stand!

For detailed information, including other ways to qualify, please refer to the Bright Futures Student Handbook.

Keeping Your Scholarship: Renewal Requirements

Once you’ve got your Bright Futures scholarship, you’ll want to keep it. Here’s how:

Credit Hour Requirements: If you’re a full-time student for both semesters, you need to earn at least 24 semester hours each academic year to renew your award. If you’re not full-time, the hours required are prorated.
GPA Requirements: You also need to maintain a certain GPA. Details on the exact GPA requirements can be found on the Bright Futures website.

Renewal Requirements	Florida Academic Scholars Award	Florida Medallion Scholars Award
Minimum Cumulative GPA (unrounded & unweighted)	3.0*	2.75
Minimum Hours Required **Per Term, if funded Full Time (12+ hours)**	12 semester earned hours	12 semester earned hours
Minimum Hours Required **Per Term, if funded Three-quarter Time (9-11 hours)**	9 semester earned hours	9 semester earned hours
Minimum Hours Required **Per Term, if funded Half Time (6-8 hours)**	6 semester earned hours	6 semester earned hours

*Florida Academic Scholars with 2.75-2.99 will renew as Florida Medallion Scholars.

What Happens if You Drop a Course?

Life happens, and sometimes you might need to drop a course. If you do, you’ll be required to repay the scholarship amount for that course and make an appeal due to a verifiable illness or emergency beyond your control. Make sure to talk to your school’s financial aid office if you find yourself in this situation. The good news is that any hours you repay can be added back to your total semester hours available for future terms.

Reinstatement and Restoration

So, you’ve hit a bump in the road and lost your Bright Futures scholarship? Don’t worry, it happens, and there’s a way to get back on track! If you lose your scholarship because your GPA dipped too low during your first year of funding, you might be eligible for a one-time-only restoration of your award.

If you didn’t receive any scholarship funds for the previous academic year (fall through spring), you could be eligible for reinstatement. To start the process, you’ll need to fill out the Reinstatement/Restoration application available on the Florida Student Financial Aid website.

Bright Futures for Transient Students

Are you planning to take some courses at a different Florida university or college? If so, you can still receive your Bright Futures scholarship as long as you’re enrolled at least halftime. Here’s what you need to know:

Stay on Top of Deadlines: Make sure you meet all registration and fee payment deadlines at your host school.
Complete a Transient Application: If you’re attending another Florida school, do this through Florida Shines.
Submit Required Documents: If you’re at a private Florida school or out-of-state institution, you’ll need:
- A transient form completed by you, your Academic Advisor, and the Home Institution Registrar.
- An official certification of enrollment or a tuition statement from the host school.
- A copy of your class schedule, including course numbers, credits, and start/end dates.

Graduate Funding

Good news for Bright Futures recipients who graduate with a bachelor’s degree! You might be eligible for one semester of graduate study funding. Here’s how you qualify:

Graduate in seven (7) semesters or fewer
or
Graduate with 105 semester hours or fewer
and
Have time remaining on your program

If you meet these criteria, you can get funding for up to 15 semester hours at the undergraduate rate for your graduate studies.

Wrapping It Up

The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship is a fantastic opportunity to make college more affordable, but it comes with some rules and deadlines to keep in mind. Stay organized, meet your deadlines, and take advantage of the resources available to you.

Disclaimer: This blog post provides personal finance educational information, and it is not intended to provide legal, financial, or tax advice.

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Daniel Bod

Writer at Going Merry

Daniel Bod is a seasoned higher education professional with two decades of expertise in financial aid. He began his career at Hofstra University in 2004, after completing his Bachelor's degree from Stony Brook University in 2000, where he provided comprehensive financial aid support to families from diverse backgrounds. In 2007, he transitioned to LIU Post and advanced to Senior Assistant Director of Enrollment Services, dedicating over ten years to assisting students and families in various capacities. During his tenure at LIU Post, Daniel also earned a Master's degree in Childhood Education. Transitioning to St. George's University in 2019, he spent over four years focusing on the financial needs of medical students. Daniel excels in advising on loan options and empowering students and families to make informed decisions about educational finances.

Everything You Need to Know About Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship