Bright Futures Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Florida Department of Education

Description

The Bright Futures Scholarship program provides state-funded tuition assistance to eligible Florida students attending approved postsecondary institutions. It covers one or more scholarship levels (such as Florida Academic Scholars and Florida Medallion Scholars) and continues while the student meets program renewal requirements and scholarship limits. Eligibility depends on residency, academic preparation in high school, standardized test scores, service or work hours, and enrollment in an eligible Florida institution.

- **Purpose:** State scholarship program for Florida students who meet academic and service/work criteria.
- **Scope:** Applies to designated scholarship levels with specific eligibility rules.
- **Continuation:** Funding continues only while renewal criteria are met and award limits are not exceeded.

Renewal

Once program funds are first disbursed, the Bright Futures Scholarship renews automatically each academic year up to the award limit, provided the student continues to meet the program’s renewal requirements. Students do not need to submit a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FFAA) annually to renew Bright Futures. Renewal is contingent on maintaining academic progress and any other institutional or program-specific conditions.

- **Automatic renewals:** Renewals occur each year after initial disbursement if renewal standards are met.
- **No annual FFAA:** Students are not required to file a yearly FFAA to retain the scholarship.
- **Conditions:** Renewal depends on ongoing compliance with academic and program rules.

Application and Deadlines

Students must complete and submit the designated financial aid application by program deadlines to establish initial eligibility and for reinstatement if applicable. The FFAA must be completed no later than the August deadline associated with the graduation year; students also must meet any post‑graduation FFAA due date required for initial awards. If a student is not funded in the academic year immediately after high school graduation, they have a five-year window from graduation to apply for reinstatement of the award.

- **FFAA deadline:** Complete the FFAA by the August deadline for your graduation year.
- **Initial award timing:** Meet post-graduation application due dates to establish first-year funding.
- **Reinstatement window:** Apply within five years of high school graduation if not funded the year after graduation.

General Eligibility Requirements

Basic program eligibility includes Florida residency and appropriate immigration status, and the absence of disqualifying felony convictions unless clemency has been granted. The student’s postsecondary institution is responsible for determining U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status. These baseline requirements apply across Bright Futures scholarship levels before considering academic or service criteria.

- **Residency and status:** Must be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen (institution-determined).
- **Criminal record:** No felony conviction or nolo contendere plea unless clemency was granted.
- **Baseline check:** These conditions are prerequisites to scholarship consideration.

Enrollment Requirements

To receive and retain Bright Futures funds, students must be accepted into and enrolled in a degree or certificate program at an eligible Florida public or independent postsecondary institution. Enrollment must meet the minimum course load requirement: at least six non-remedial semester credit hours (or equivalent in quarter or clock hours) per term. Students must also adhere to their institution’s academic progress standards to remain eligible for disbursement.

- **Eligible institutions:** Must be a Florida public or eligible independent postsecondary school.
- **Program of study:** Enrollment in a degree or certificate program is required.
- **Minimum credits:** At least six non-remedial semester credit hours (or equivalent) per term.

Initial Eligibility for Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) and Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS)

Students seeking FAS or FMS must meet specific high school‑level academic and service/work requirements in addition to the general eligibility criteria. Acceptable pathways include graduating from a Florida public high school with a standard diploma, a registered FDOE private high school, completing a home education program, earning a GED, or meeting conditions for certain out‑of‑state graduates. Applicants must complete required high school coursework, meet the minimum GPA, achieve required minimum scores on ACT, CLT, or SAT (tests accepted through the August deadline of the graduation year), and complete the required total of 100 volunteer/service/paid work hours.

- **Graduation pathways:** Florida public/private diploma, home education, GED, or qualifying out-of-state conditions.
- **Academic preparation:** Completion of required high school coursework and meeting the minimum GPA.
- **Testing and service:** Required minimum ACT/CLT/SAT scores (accepted through August) and 100 total service/work hours.