State of Florida Scholarships

The State of Florida provides scholarships through several programs, the most well known being the Bright Futures scholarship program. Full information on all State Programs is available online through the Florida Department of Education/Office of Student Financial Assistance website

If you are an out of state student check with your state's department of education to see if you are eligible for any state grant that they might administer.

• Bright Futures

  To apply for a Bright Futures Scholarship, submit a completed Florida Financial Aid Application during your last year in high school (after December 1 and prior to graduation). It is your responsibility to know and meet the requirements of the Bright Future Scholarship Program before high school graduation. You may apply online at http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/factsheets/BF.htm
  

• IMPORTANT NOTE* You must apply during your last year in high school, before graduation, or you will forfeit all future eligibility for a Bright Futures Scholarship.

NEW - Changes for 2011-2012

FAFSA Requirement:

Florida Senate Bill 2150, passed by the 2011 Florida Legislature effective July 1 2011, specifies that:

“To be eligible for an award under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, a student must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid which is complete and error free prior to disbursement. “

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online now -- Don't Delay!

• In the school section, enter 001489 so that FSU will receive information.

• No Bright Futures funds will be disbursed without a valid FAFSA data received by FSU.

NEW - Changes for 2012-2013

Florida Bright Futures Gold Seal Eligibility change for new students:

Student whose initial eligibility for Florida Bright Futures Gold Seal Scholarship begins with the 2012-2013 academic year or thereafter will not be eligible to receive funding for the above scholarship for anything other than Career Education Programs (not applicable for Bachelor's degree). Please refer to the Bright Futures website or call 1/888/827/2004 for more information.

2012 Rates for Bright Futures Scholarship:

• Bright Futures Academic Scholarship: $100/credit

• Bright Futures Medallion/Bright Futures Vocational Gold Seal: $ 75/credit

Bright Futures Drop/Repayment Requirement

• A student must reimburse the postsecondary institution for the cost of course(s) dropped or withdrawn after the initial drop/add period.  Non-payment will affect the student's renewal eligibility.

Renewal

Note: Below is a brief overview of Renewal criteria -- for full information see the State of Florida policy page at :

http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/ssfad/factsheets/BF.htm or call TOLL FREE: 1-888-827-2004

At the end of the Spring term each year, FSU will report the grade point average (GPA) and earned hours for students who have received Bright Futures funding. Student must meet the following criteria to renew the scholarship for the next year:

• Bright Futures Academic Scholarship:
  • 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • 12 credits per term paid for full time enrolled (12+ hours enrolled)
  • 9 credits per term paid for three-quarter enrolled (8-11 hours enrolled)
  • 6 credits per term paid for half-time enrollment (6-8 hours enrolled)

• Bright Futures Medallion/Bright Futures Vocational Gold Seal:
  • 2.75 cumulative GPA
  • 12 credits per term paid for full time enrolled (12+ hours enrolled)
  • 9 credits per term paid for three-quarter enrolled (8-11 hours enrolled)
  • 6 credits per term paid for half-time enrollment (6-8 hours enrolled)

Students who first received Bright Futures for before Fall 2010 may enroll in Summer classes to raise GPA or earn additional hours. If GPA / hours criteria or not met, these students may be ineligible for Bright Futures for a period of at least one academic year. At the end of the academic year, if the criteria have been met, the student may apply for Restoration.

Students graduating high school 2009-2010 or after, who first receive Bright Futures Fall 2010 or after and who fail to meet the GPA criteria after their first year only, may enroll in Summer classes to raise GPA. IF GPA criteria is not met at the end of summer, these students may be ineligible for Bright Futures for the next academic year. At the end of that year (second year), these students may apply for Restoration. Restoration is not an option for loss of eligibility due to insufficient earned hours, or for loss of eligibility due to low GPA after the first year.

Updated September 19, 2012