The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program establishes three lottery-funded scholarships to reward Florida high school graduates for high academic achievement.
What are the Initial Eligibility Requirements to Receive Funding?
The student will:
Meet Florida's residency requirements for receipt of state student financial aid by maintaining Florida residency for purposes other than education for a minimum of 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of class of the academic term for which funds are requested. A student's residency status is determined by the postsecondary institution. An applicant who has questions regarding residency status should contact the financial aid office of the institution he/she plans to attend.
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. A student's residency and citizenship status is determined by the postsecondary institution. An applicant who has questions regarding residency status should contact the financial aid office of the institution he/she plans to attend.
Not owe a repayment under any state or federal grant or scholarship program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.
Not be in default on any federal Title IV or state student loan program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.
View specific coursework and minimum grade point average (GPA) and test score requirements by visiting the First Time Applicants link, on the Bright Futures website:
http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/bf/
How Does a Student Apply?
For Initial Eligibility the student will:
Submit a fully completed (error free) Florida Financial Aid Application during his/her last year in high school (after December 1 and prior to graduation) by accessing www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org online (select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, then Apply Here). The application gives the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) permission to evaluate the student's high school transcript and standardized test scores for eligibility for a Bright Futures Scholarship and other state scholarships and grants.
Apply during his/her last year in high school, before graduation, or will forfeit all future eligibility for a Bright Futures Scholarship.
How Does a Student Renew?
A student who receives funding during the current academic year (fall through spring) is automatically evaluated for renewal at the end of the spring term.
Renewal cumulative GPA and completed hours requirements are outlined in the Bright Futures outline on the Bright Futures Fact Sheet.
The institution where a student is enrolled as degree- or certificate-seeking is the home institution. That institution determines the courses to be included in each student's renewal institutional cumulative GPA.
A student may request that a financial aid officer at the home institution use his/her high school dual enrollment courses to his/her advantage when calculating the renewal institutional cumulative GPA.
