Florida Bright Futures Requirements: What You Need to Know

Everything you should know about the Florida Bright Scholarship
Updated:
April 26, 2024
Expert Reviewed
Contents

”Mary

Reviewed by:

Mary Banks

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 4/26/24

Are you interested in becoming a Florida Bright Futures Scholar? Read on to learn everything you need to know about the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship.

It's no secret that paying college tuition can be one of the first stresses you'll face throughout your post-secondary experience. But paying post-secondary tuition is not always a problem you'll have to face alone - especially with the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship.

If you're a Florida high school graduate looking for help paying your post-secondary tuition, the Florida Bright Futures Program is an excellent program to pursue. Read on to learn how you can receive up to 100% of funding for your education with the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship.

Florida Bright Futures Programs

The Florida Bright Futures Program is a lottery-based grant system that provides scholarly funding for Florida's post-secondary graduates. While the funding differs based on the award, some students may be fortunate enough to have their entire college education funded!

However, there is a catch - the award will only be granted to students attending a college or any other post-secondary institution in Florida.

Since its inception in 1997, the Florida Bright Futures Program has helped over 725,000 Florida residents continue and complete their post-secondary education. In the previous school year, 16% of eligible recipients received funding.

The Florida Bright Futures Program provides financial grants per credit or course taken throughout a student’s post-secondary career. Those eligible are first granted the funds within their first year of post-secondary schooling. They must renew their eligibility each year by maintaining a specific grade point average. 

The GPA requirement differs for each award–with this said, The Florida Bright Futures Program offers four different types of scholarships awards:

  • The Florida Academic Scholars Award (FAS)
  • The Florida Medallion Scholars Award (FMS)
  • The Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award (GSV)
  • The Gold Seal CAPE Scholars Award (GSC)

We will explain these types of scholarship awards below.

Florida Academic Scholars Award (FAS)

The Florida Academic Scholars Award (FAS), possibly the most prestigious and competitive of the four, provides up to 100% tuition reimbursement for eligible recipients. On average, successful applicants of this award use it to fund their undergraduate degree. 

Those enrolled in a Florida public university will have their tuition and fees completely reimbursed, including activity and service fees, and health and financial aid fees. Those that attend a private post-secondary institution will receive a comparable amount.

Florida Medallion Scholars Award (FMS)

The Florida Medallion Scholars Award provides 75% funding for those pursuing an undergraduate degree and 100% for those pursuing an associate's degree. 

Like the FAS award, those attending a public university in Florida will have their tuition and affiliated fees reimbursed up to 75%. Similarly, those attending a private school in Florida will receive a comparable amount. 

Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award (GSVS) and the Gold Seal CAPE Award (GSC)

The Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award funds career education or certificate program students. Its primary recipients are students pursuing a science or technology associate degree at a technical or community college. 

Like the GSVC, the Gold Seal CAPE Award is funded primarily for those enrolled in career education or certificate program. If a student completes an associate's degree in a science-related program, they will be eligible to receive additional funding towards 60 credits to bridge to an undergraduate degree within the same program. 

For example, if a successful applicant receives the GSC and completes an associate's degree in science, the GSC will provide funding for up to 60 credits. This allows them to complete their education and pursue a bachelor of applied science program. 

Both awards will only be granted to students enrolled in post-secondary institutions that offer an applied technology diploma, a technical degree program (i.e., an associate’s degree in applied science), or a career certificate program.

The GSVS and the GSC offer funding on a per-credit-hour basis. Students can receive anywhere from $39 to $48 per credit hour per semester, depending on the type of program they wish to pursue.

Florida Bright Futures Requirements

Regardless of the type of scholarship award, specific requirements are mandatory to be considered for the Florida Bright Futures Program. 

According to the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship handbook, a successful award winner must:

  • Be a resident or non-resident of Florida (as determined by your post-secondary institution).
  • Complete the FAFSA (Florida Financial Student Aid Application) by August 31st after high school graduation. Students who do not complete the FFAA (Florida Financial Aid Application) will be ineligible.
  • Earn a Florida high school diploma or equivalent from a registered Florida public high school, a registered Florida Department of Education private high school, or complete a home education program.
  • The eligible applicant should not have been found guilty or pled no contest to a felony charge unless clemency has been granted otherwise.
  • Accepted and enrolled in a degree or certificate program at an eligible public post-secondary or independent institution.
  • Be enrolled for at least six non-remedial semester credit hours per term.
  • If you do not apply in the year immediately following your high school graduation, you are required to apply within five years of your graduation.

Specific Program Requirements

The four different awards offered by the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship have different requirements. For comparison, you will find a comprehensive table listing the requirements below.

Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSVS) Gold Seal CAPE Scholars (GSC)
High School Credits 16 16 At least 3 credits in a single Career and Technical Education Program Earn a minimum of five post-secondary credit hours through CAPE industry certifications that articulate for college credit
Test Scores ACT: 29
SAT: 1340
ACT: 25
SAT: 1210
ACT Required Scores:
Reading: 19
English: 17
Mathematics: 19
SAT Required Scores:
Reading Test: 24
Writing and Language Test: 25
Math Test: 24
N/A
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSVS) Gold Seal CAPE Scholars (GSC)
GPA 3.50 (weighted) 3.00 (weighted) 3.0 in high school courses (weighed), 3.5 in career education courses (unweighted) N/A
Service Hours 100 Hours 75 Hours 30 Hours 30 Hours
Total Award Amount 100% of Tuition 100% of tuition for those in Associates programs, 75% of Tuition for those in undergraduate programs A fixed cost per credit based on the amount of credits earned A fixed cost per credit based on the amount of credits earned
Required Cumulative GPA for Renewal 3.0 2.75 2.75 2.75

It's important for Florida students to understand the specific eligibility criteria for each award in order to maximize their chances of receiving a Bright Futures Scholarship.

How to Apply for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship

While the steps to apply for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship may seem extensive, the reward is worth it!

Once you have determined your eligibility and have met the preliminary requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Program, your next step is to send in a formal application! To apply for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, you will need to:

1. Complete the FAFSA (Florida Financial Aid) forms in full detail

Your application process should begin between December 1st and your senior high school graduation. The deadline to complete the FAFSA is August 31st. 

The application should be error-free. Any errors will result in a delay in processing time or disqualification of any of the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship awards. If a student does not complete a FAFSA form, they will not receive any funding from the Florida Bright Futures Program.

2. Fulfill all requirements to ensure funding

Once a student successfully submits an application during their senior year, it is their responsibility to ensure that they continue to meet all of the Florida Bright Futures requirements up until graduation. 

3. Know the requirements for renewal for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship

Once a scholarship has been granted to a student, it remains the student’s responsibility to ensure that they continue to meet the scholarship’s renewal requirements throughout their post-secondary career. 

Should these requirements not be met, or if a student withdraws from their courses, the Florida Bright Futures program reserves the right to revoke funding.

FAQs: Florida Bright Futures Scholarship

Now that we’ve gone over everything there is to know about the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and its requirements, let’s go over some FAQs to answer any questions you may still have. 

1. What are the Requirements for a Bright Futures Scholarship?

While the requirements for each award are different from one another, the general requirements to be considered are as follows:

  • Complete the FFAA (Florida Financial Aid Application)
  • Earn a Florida high school diploma or equivalent
  • Have a clean criminal record
  • Be accepted and enrolled into a degree or certificate program at an eligible public post-secondary or independent institution.
  • Be enrolled for at least six -non -remedial semester credit hours per term.

2. What are the 4 Levels of Bright Futures?

The four levels of The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship are as follows:

  • The Florida Academic Scholars Award (FAS)
  • The Florida Medallion Scholars Award (FMS)
  • The Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award (GSV)
  • The Gold Seal CAPE Scholars Award (GSC)

3. What is the minimum GPA for bright futures?

While the GSC Scholars Award doesn’t have a minimum GPA requirement, the FAS, FMS, and GSV Scholars Awards have different minimum GPA requirements. They are as listed:

  • The Florida Academic Scholars Award (FAS): 3.5 (weighted)
  • The Florida Medallion Scholars Award (FMS): 3.0 (weighted)
  • The Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award (GSV): 3.0 in high school courses (weighted), 3.5 in career education courses

4. How Do You Qualify for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship?

Even though the qualifications for each award are different, students must first meet regulatory qualifications to be eligible for the program. Students who hope to apply must meet the following requirements:

  • Must be a resident or non-resident of Florida.
  • Must complete the FAFSA (Florida Financial Aid) agreement no later than August 31st.
  • Attain a high school diploma/GED from an accredited Florida high school.
  • The applicant must have a clean criminal record.
  • The applicant is accepted and enrolled in an eligible post-secondary institution.
  • The applicant must be enrolled for at least six credits per term.

5. How Much Does the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Pay?

The amount of funding a successful applicant receives depends on their qualifying award.

Those that receive The Florida Academic Scholars Award (FAS) may receive 100% of funding for their undergraduate education. In comparison, those that receive the Florida Medallion Scholarship may receive up to 75% of funding for their undergraduate education.

Those that receive the Gold Seal Vocational Award and the Gold Seal CAPE Award will receive a fixed amount of funding per credit. Depending on the associate's or certificate program the student decides to pursue, the amount offered may be enough to fund 100% of their schooling. 

Final Thoughts

The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship is an incredible way to receive a portion of or even free funding for your post-secondary education. 

Receiving the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship can change one's life for the better. Successful award recipients receive a head-start on their adult life, as they can leave the worry of paying for most or all of their post-secondary education behind them.

While the program can be competitive, there is no denying that the benefits of receiving a Florida Bright Futures scholarship are worth the time, effort, and sacrifices taken to meet all requirements.

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