Brightfutures
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Information
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program establishes three lottery-funded scholarships to reward Florida high school graduates for high academic achievement.
Students must APPLY for the Bright Futures scholarships by submitting the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) no later than August 31 after high school graduation. If a student does not apply for the scholarship by the deadline, a student cannot receive the scholarship!
All eligibility requirements must be met by high school graduation, but scores of ACT/SAT/P.E.R.T. tests taken through June 30 are accepted for evaluation purposes. After submitting the FFAA, the student is responsible for tracking application and award status online and keeping the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) informed of any demographic or institutional changes.
The Bright Futures Scholarship will renew automatically each year (up to the scholarship limit) if the student maintains the required GPA and earns the required credit hours.
Eligibility Requirements
Students and families should refer to the Bright Futures Student Handbook to learn more about initial eligibility requirements. General eligibility requirements include, but are not limited to:
- Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, as determined by the student's postsecondary institution.
- Complete the Florida Financial Aid Application (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 6 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 two years of high school graduation to have your award reinstated.
Check Your Eligibility
Simply go to www.floridashines.org.
- Mouse over the section titled: Go to College.
- Click on the "Pay for College link".
- Scroll down to the Bright Futures section and click on the “Check your Eligibility for a Bright Future Scholarship Now link”.
- Provide the requested information on the next screen: Florida Student Identifier Number (usually your Social Security Number followed by an X), select your district, and enter your last name.
- Click Submit.
Scholarship Guidelines and Awards
FLORIDA BRIGHT FUTURES REQUIREMENTS
2022-2023
FLORIDA ACADEMIC SCHOLARS AWARD (FAS)
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3.5 weighted GPA
-
Courses must include 16 credits of college preparatory academic courses. May use up to 3 additional credits to raise GPA (see BF’s website)
4 English (3 with substantial writing)
4 Mathematics (Algebra I level and above)*
3 Natural Science (2 with substantial lab)
3 Social Science
2 World Language (in the same language)**
-
100 Community Service Hours
- Test Scores-Best composite score of 1330 SAT (does not include new writing score) or 29 ACT (ACT scores are rounded up for scores with .5 and higher; SAT scores do not require rounding.)
FLORIDA MEDALLION SCHOLARS AWARD (FMS)
-
3.0 weighted GPA
-
Courses must include 16 credits of college preparatory academic courses. May use up to 3 additional credits to raise GPA (see BF’s website)
4 English (3 with substantial writing)
4 Mathematics (Algebra I level and above)*
3 Natural Science (2 with substantial lab)
3 Social Science
2 World Language (in the same language)**
-
75 hours of community service
Test Scores-Best composite score of 1210 SAT (does not include new writing score) or 25 ACT (ACT scores are rounded up for scores with .5 and higher; SAT scores do not require rounding.)
FLORIDA GOLD SEAL VOCATIONAL SCHOLARS AWARD (GSV)
The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV) award may be funded if a student is enrolled in a career education or certificate program. Florida high school students who wish to qualify for the GSV award must meet the following initial eligibility requirements:
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3.0 weighted GPA in the non-elective high school courses
-
Earn at least 3 full credits in a single Career and Technical Education program
-
3.5 unweighted GPA in the career education courses
-
Complete 30 service hours
-
Achieve the required minimum scores on one of the college entrance exams per the chart below:
|
Exam Type |
Sub-test |
Required Score |
|
PERT |
Reading |
106 |
|
Writing |
103 |
|
|
Mathematics |
114 |
|
|
ACT |
English |
17 |
|
Reading |
19 |
|
|
Mathematics |
19 |
|
|
SAT |
Reading |
24 |
|
Writing and Language |
25 |
|
|
Math |
24 |
FLORIDA GOLD SEAL CAPE SCHOLARS AWARD (GSC)
The Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award (GSC) may be funded if a student is enrolled in a career education or certificate program. Upon completion of an associate in science degree program that articulates to a Bachelor of Science degree, a GSC Scholar may also receive an award for a maximum of 60 credit hours toward a Bachelor of Science degree program. Upon completion of an associate in applied science program, a GSC Scholar may also receive an award for a maximum of 60 credit hours toward a Bachelor of Applied Science degree program.
-
Students must earn a minimum of 5 postsecondary credit hours through CAPE industry certifications that articulate for college credit and complete 30 volunteer services hours.
-
30 hours of community service earned while in high school
NOTES:
*Algebra 1A and Algebra 1B will only count as 1 math credit & 8th grade Algebra may be used.
**8th grade Foreign Language may be used.
The Florida Legislature is authorized to change eligibility requirements for future graduating classes.
