Program Description
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program establishes three lottery-funded scholarships to reward Florida high school graduates for high academic achievement. The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is comprised of the following three awards:
- Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) award
- including Academic Top Scholars (ATS) award
- Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) award
- Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV) award
Initial Eligibility Requirements to Receive Funding
The student will
- Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. A student’s residency and citizenship status are determined by the postsecondary institution. Questions regarding such status should be directed to the financial aid office or admissions office of the institution the student plans to attend.
- Not owe a repayment or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.
- Meet specific coursework and minimum grade point average (GPA) and test score requirements which are outlined on the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) website .
- ATS - The Academic Top Scholars award, announced by the Florida Department of Education before the end of the fall term after all term one disbursements are reported, is awarded to the Florida Academic Scholar with the highest academic ranking in each county (based on the product of multiplying the Bright Futures GPA and the highest qualifying SAT/ACT test score). The recipient receives a cost per credit hour award established by the Florida Legislature in the General Appropriations Act in addition to the Florida Academic Scholars award. For current year award amounts visit the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program website .
- NEW - Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA does not have to indicate financial need; however, must be complete and processed error free prior to a student’s first disbursement of the 2011-12 academic year. Visit the FAFSA website .