Florida Bright Futures Scholarship: Requirements and Deadlines

The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is a valuable opportunity for Florida residents seeking financial assistance for college. Funded by the Florida Lottery, this merit-based program rewards high-achieving high school graduates with scholarships to attend eligible Florida postsecondary institutions. This guide provides a detailed overview of the Bright Futures Scholarship, including eligibility requirements, award amounts, deadlines, and renewal criteria.

Overview of the Bright Futures Scholarship Program

The Bright Futures Scholarship is a state-funded program designed to help Florida students finance their higher education at in-state colleges and universities, whether public or private. For students attending eligible private colleges in Florida, the scholarship provides a comparable amount based on the average tuition rates of public institutions. The program offers several scholarships with different requirements and award amounts.

Types of Bright Futures Scholarships

The program offers scholarships based on high school grades and test scores. There are two main types of awards:

Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) Award: This is the most competitive and generous Bright Futures scholarship. Florida Academic Scholars will receive an award amount equal to 100% of tuition and applicable fees. FAS recipients may receive funding for up to five years from high school graduation for a maximum of 120 semester hours toward the completion of a first baccalaureate degree. At FSU, tuition and applicable fees covers the following; tuition, financial aid fee, capital improvement fee, health fee, health plus fee, counseling center fee, athletics fee, activities and services fee, technology fee, transportation access fee, and tuition differential fee for a total of $213.55 per credit hour. The scholarship does not cover the $2 per credit hour student facilities use fee nor does it cover the $20 per semester student facilities use fee or the $5 per semester FSUCard term fee. Additional costs assessed to courses such as material and supply fees, electronic and physical book subscriptions, or online course fees are not covered by the program. The Florida Academic Scholars will receive an award amount equal to 100% of tuition and applicable fees. Winners also receive $300 per semester to put towards additional educational costs. If you’re the top Florida Academic Scholar in your county, you’ll also get the Academic Top Scholars Award.
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) Award: This scholarship is less competitive than the FAS, but it still has relatively high minimum test score and GPA requirements. Florida Medallion Scholars will receive an award amount equal to 75% of tuition and applicable fall, spring and summer fees. The FMS Award covers 75% of your tuition and fees. At FSU, tuition and applicable fees covers the following; tuition, financial aid fee, capital improvement fee, health fee, health plus fee, counseling center fee, athletics fee, activities and services fee, technology fee, transportation access fee, and tuition differential fee for a total of $160.16 per credit hour. The scholarship does not cover the $2 per credit hour student facilities use fee nor does it cover the $20 per semester student facilities use fee or the $5 per semester FSUCard term fee. Additional costs assessed to courses such as material and supply fees, electronic and physical book subscriptions, or online course fees are not covered by the program.
Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars program: provides a fixed payment per credit hour which varies by program of study. The program is designed for students who already received an associate degree and are seeking a bachelor’s. This program is less competitive than Florida Medallion Scholars and Florida Medallion Scholars.
Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars program: provides a fixed payment per credit hour which varies with program of study. This program is designed for students who are pursuing a certificate or vocational degree.

General Eligibility Requirements

Each Bright Futures program has a different set of requirements, but there are a few that they all share. Here are the requirements you must meet in order to qualify for any Bright Futures program.

To be eligible for an initial award from any of the scholarships under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, a student must:

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Be a Florida resident as defined in s. 1009.40 and rules of the State Board of Education.
Earn a standard Florida high school diploma pursuant to s. 1002.3105(5), s. 1003.4281, or s. 1003.4282 or a high school equivalency diploma pursuant to s. 1003.435 unless:
- The student completes a home education program according to s. 1002.41;
- The student earns a high school diploma from a non-Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who is on, or, within 12 months before the student’s high school graduation, has retired from, military or public service assignment away from Florida; or
- The student earns a high school diploma from a Florida private school operating pursuant to s. 1002.42.
Be accepted by and enroll in an eligible Florida public or independent postsecondary education institution.
Be enrolled for at least 6 semester credit hours or the equivalent in quarter hours or clock hours. This is equivalent to being enrolled half-time. Full-time enrollment would be 12 credit hours. So, as long as you enrolled for half the credits of what your institution considers full-time, you can qualify for the scholarship. Bright Futures will not be disbursed until a student is enrolled in at least 6 credit hours. Bright Futures will disburse in the summer when a student is actively enrolled in at least six credit hours.
Not have been found guilty of, or entered a plea of nolo contendere to, a felony charge, unless the student has been granted clemency by the Governor and Cabinet sitting as the Executive Office of Clemency.
Apply for a scholarship from the program by high school graduation. However, a student who graduates from high school midyear must apply no later than December 31 of the student’s graduation year in order to be evaluated for and, if eligible, receive an award for the current academic year.
Complete the required high school coursework.
Achieve the required minimum high school GPA.
Achieve the required minimum ACT, CLT, or SAT college entrance exam score. Tests are accepted through August 31 of the high school graduation year. The Bright Futures program accepts superscoring for standardized tests.
Complete the required number of volunteer service and/or paid work hours.

If you meet all the requirements listed above, congratulations! You may be in the running for a Bright Futures scholarship.

Specific Requirements for Each Program

Now, let’s dig into the requirements for each program.

Florida Academic Scholars (FAS):
- Minimum 3.5 weighted GPA.
- Minimum score of 29 on the ACT, a 95 on the CLT (Classic Learning Test), or 1330 on the SAT. To earn the Bright Futures Florida Academic Scholars award, you’ll need a minimum of 1330 on the SAT, a minimum of 29 on the ACT, or a minimum of 95 on the CLT.
- Students must also have completed a set of high school coursework requirements. However, these requirements align with the state university system admission requirements.
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS):
- Minimum 3.0 weighted GPA.
- Minimum score of 24 on the ACT, an 82 on the CLT, or 1190 on the SAT. The Florida Medallion Scholars program, on the other hand, requires a minimum of 1190 on the SAT, a minimum of 82 on the CLT, or a minimum of 24 on the ACT.
- Students must be pursuing an applied technology diploma, an associate’s degree in applied science or associate in science, or a career certificate. If students have already received an associate’s degree, they can receive funding for up to 60 hours towards a Bachelor’s.
Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars (GSC):
- Students who meet general Bright Futures requirements and are currently enrolled in a career education or certificate program are eligible.
Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV):
- The Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars program has no SAT requirement, and the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars program has varying minimum SAT scores for the different awards. Gold Seal CAPE Scholars have no minimum ACT score, and minimum scores vary by the different levels of Gold Seal Vocational Scholars.

Out-of-State and Non-Traditional Students

If you are a Florida resident who went to school out-of-state, you can still earn a Bright Futures scholarship if you meet certain requirements.

Application Deadlines and Process

To apply for the Bright Futures Scholarship, you’ll need to submit the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) by August 31 of the year you graduate from high school. Applying for Bright Futures is straightforward but requires careful attention to deadlines, particularly the August 31, 2025, application deadline and SAT/ACT score submission requirements. Missing the Bright Futures Deadline 2025 (August 31, 2025).: Submit the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) by August 31, 2025.

Here are some key things to keep in mind when applying:

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Even if you haven’t met all eligibility requirements yet or are planning to attend college out-of-state, completing this application on time is important. If you miss the deadline, you won’t be able to receive the scholarship.
All eligibility requirements must be met by high school graduation, but ACT, CLT, and SAT scores taken through August 31 are accepted for evaluation.
Once you’ve submitted the FFAA, you’ll be responsible for tracking your application status online. Make sure to keep the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) at the Florida Department of Education updated on any changes to your contact information or school. To confirm your scholarship funding, contact your school’s financial aid office.
Note: When completing your Florida Financial Aid Application your post-secondary institution must be listed as "Florida State University." If you have selected another institution but are planning to attend Florida State you must update your institution name. The student did not select Florida State University as their home institution through the Office of Student Financial Assistance. The student's Social Security Number does not match between FSU and the Office of Student Financial Assistance. If you know that you did not provide a Social Security Number to FSU during your application process, reach out to the Office of the Registrar to update your data.
Students who don’t meet the test requirements listed above may still be eligible for the FAS or FMS.
Students who have been receiving Bright Futures’s funds throughout the academic year do not need to re-apply and rather will be automatically evaluated at the end of the spring term.

Key Deadlines

The most critical deadline to remember is August 31 of your graduation year for submitting the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA).

Scholarship Renewal Requirements

As a Bright Futures Scholarship recipient, you’ll automatically be evaluated for scholarship renewal at the end of the academic year. Renewal eligibility is an automatic process that occurs at the end of the spring term for those students who received funding during the previous year. However, there are some requirements to remain eligible:

Renewal students must earn the GPA and the required hours on all college coursework attempted, including transient enrollment hours.

GPA Requirements

Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) - 3.0
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) - 2.75
Florida Academic Scholars with a 2.75-2.99 GPA at the end of the renewal period will renew as Florida Medallion Scholars. However, raising your GPA above 3.0 during a future renewal period can restore your FAS status using a one-time restoration opportunity.

Credit Hour Requirements

To renew your Bright Futures award each year, you must complete at least 24 semester hours if you’re enrolled full-time for both semesters.

Repayment and Appeals

UCF Repayment Deadline - See Academic Calendar for the specific term. Florida Department of Education (OSFA Repayment Deadline - Students must pay UCF before the end of the spring term to be reported automatically. A student with a verifiable illness or some other emergency beyond the student’s control may appeal the repayment requirement by completing the State Programs and Scholarships Appeal Form and submitting it with supporting documentation. Repayment for withdrawn courses appeals may be submitted after courses are withdrawn but must be submitted no later than April 30th. If you do not meet the renewal GPA and/or required hours due to a verifiable illness or other emergencies, you may file a State Programs and Scholarships Appeal Form with our office. The medical or emergency circumstances that affected the semester/s in question must be documented.

Using Bright Futures at UCF

NOTE: In order to receive the Bright Futures Scholarship award, your post-secondary institution selection on the Initial Student Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) must be stated as “University of Central Florida.” If you have selected another institution on the FFAA and you are planning to attend UCF, you must update your institution name selection to reflect “UCF”.
Eligible students who need less than 6 credit hours to graduate. These students must submit a letter (on official letterhead) from their student success coach.
Graduate level hours may be approved by the student’s student success coach if they are required for the completion of the degree. Courses will be paid as an undergraduate rate.
Graduate level hours may be approved by the student’s student success coach.
Yes. Grade and hours information will be reported for all students funded during the summer. If a student took transient hours, the grades and hours earned at the other institution must be reported to UCF by August 12 in order to be reported systematically.
If a student has an opportunity to restore the Bright Futures award, the grades from the summer term may be used to meet restoration requirements.

Can Bright Futures be used for graduate school?

If you’re a Bright Futures Scholarship recipient and graduate with your bachelor’s degree, you may qualify for funding for one semester of graduate study. Graduate level hours may be approved by the student’s student success coach if the graduate level hours will count toward the undergraduate degree completion requirements. These students must submit a letter (on official letterhead) from their student success coach.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities for Florida Students

If you’re looking for more ways to fund your education, here are some additional scholarships and grants just for Florida students.

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Benacquisto Scholarship:The Benacquisto Scholarship Program is a merit-based scholarship for high school graduates recognized as National Merit Scholars. If you qualify, you’ll receive an award that covers your in-state college costs minus any funding you receive from Bright Futures and the National Merit award.
Florida Farmworker Student Scholarship:The Florida Farmworker Student Scholarship (FFSS) Program is a need-based merit scholarship that helps up to 50 eligible students who are farmworkers or children of farmworkers, as defined by Florida law. If you qualify, you’ll receive an award that covers your tuition and specified fees at a public college or university.
José Martí Scholarship:The José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund is a need-based merit scholarship for eligible students of Hispanic origin who plan to attend a Florida public or eligible private institution. If you qualify, you’ll receive an annual award of $2,000, split into $1,000 per semester.
Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans:The Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans (CSDDV) provides funding to dependent children or un-remarried spouses of qualified Florida veterans.

Maximizing Your Chances of Receiving a Bright Futures Scholarship

If you are pursuing a Bright Futures scholarship, there are many ways that you can maximize your chances. You can start by working to make sure your test scores and GPA are as high as possible. You can maximize your test scores by deciding whether to focus on the SAT or the ACT.

Deferment Options

Students who engage in a military, religious, or service obligation can defer the Bright Futures Scholarship as long as the obligation lasts longer than 18 months. For a student who enlists in the United States Armed Forces immediately after completion of high school, the 5-year period shall begin upon the date of separation from active duty. For a student who is receiving a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship award and discontinues his or her education to enlist in the United States Armed Forces, the remainder of his or her 5-year renewal period shall commence upon the date of separation from active duty. For a student who is unable to accept an initial award due to a full-time religious or service obligation lasting at least 18 months which begins within 1 year after completion of high school, the 5-year period begins upon the completion of his or her religious or service obligation. The organization sponsoring the full-time religious or service obligation must meet the requirements for nonprofit status under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or be a federal government service organization, including, but not limited to, the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps programs. The obligation must be documented in writing and verified by the entity for which the student completed the obligation on a standardized form prescribed by the department.

Key Takeaways

The Bright Futures Scholarship is a critical financial resource for Florida students. Knowing the bright future requirements, maintaining your GPA, and hitting the SAT requirement for Bright Futures can make or break your eligibility. Applying for Bright Futures is straightforward but requires careful attention to deadlines, particularly the August 31 application deadline and SAT/ACT score submission requirements. For those applying for the first time, following the detailed steps provided-from completing the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) to tracking renewal criteria-can make the process seamless. Whether attending a public or private institution, Bright Futures serves as a crucial resource in reducing the financial burden of college education. By staying informed and proactive, students can maximize this opportunity, setting themselves up for academic success without overwhelming financial stress.

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