The Alliance of Educational Leaders

   BRIGHT FUTURES

The State of Florida's Bright Futures Scholarship Program offers 3 types of merit based scholarships, funded by the Florida lottery to reward Florida’s high school graduates for higher academic achievement:
  • “Merit based” means all students are eligible regardless of financial need;  scholarships are awarded based on what students “earn” or achieve in high school

  • Students must earn a standard high school diploma or its equivalent

  • Graduates must be full-time residents in the State

  • Applicants cannot have been found guilty of or pled no contest to a felony charge

  • Students have up to 3 years from graduation to claim their scholarships for full-time or part-time study in Florida public and private postsecondary institutions (including vocational schools)

  • Students must be accepted by and enrolled in an eligible institution for at least 6 semester hours (or the equivalent) schedule in order to access for their scholarships

  • The 3 types of scholarships are described in the table below

  • For the latest information, including values of the awards:  www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org   

    or call 1-888-827-200 (toll-free)

 

GPA (Grade Point Average) - weighted

SAT
score

ACT
score

# of Credits
required

Service
Hours

Academic Scholars Award*

100% of tuition + fees




3.5




1270




28




15 college prep




75**

Medallion Scholars Award***

75% of tuition and fees




3.0




970




20




15 college prep




n/a

Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award

75% of tuition and fees


3.0


3.5 unweighted in job preparatory courses


880 total

440 verbal

440 math


17 English

18 Reading

19 Math


15 regular



 3 job prep




n/a
 
*additional ways to qualify include: National Merit or Achievement Scholars and Finalists, National Hispanic Scholars, IB Diploma Scholars and Home Education students registered with the districts in 11th and 12th grades and scoring at or above  the SAT or ACTs listed above
**schools may award ˝ credit in social studies and ˝ elective credit for non-paid voluntary community or school service work
***additional ways to qualify include:  National Merit or Achievement Scholars and Finalists and National Hispanic Scholars without 75 hours of community service, IB Completer with 970 SAT or 20 ACT, Home Education students who are registered in the district in the 11th and 12th grades with a 1070 SAT score or 23 ACT