bright futures scholarship requirements 2024-2025
The Bright Futures scholarship requirementss program in Florida is an excellent opportunity to attain college funding. Besides a well-paying opportunity, it is highly competitive with a very strict set of requirements.
Due to the extensive requirements that are listed in the Bright Futures handbook, the application process can become overwhelming. This is why we have done all the heavy lifting for you and made the requirements more readable! Continue reading to learn all about the Bright Futures scholarship requirements.
The Bright Futures Scholarship Requirements
Each of the Bright Futures programs has its own set of criteria, but there are some that apply across the board to all of them. Below is a set of criteria you will have to meet to apply for any Bright Futures program. You must:
Be a Florida resident and a US Citizen or eligible noncitizen. It doesn’t matter where your parents live. If you are a Florida resident, you qualify.
Graduate from a Florida high school or equivalent. You can graduate from a public high school or an approved private high school.
Be enrolled or will be enrolling, for at least six credit hours per term.
Submit the Florida Financial Aid Application by August 31 of your graduation year.
Enroll in a postsecondary program in the state of Florida.
Have not been convicted of a felony.
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Differences between the The Bright Futures scholarship requirements programs
If you have all of the above, congratulations! You may be a candidate for a Bright Futures scholarship. Our next step will be to give an overview of each Bright Futures program. We’ll show you what the award amounts are, and what educational tracks they are meant for. Once you find the right fits for you, read on to learn about each programs requirements.
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS)
The Florida Academic Scholars award provides funding for 100% of the cost for a public program of study. This includes all appropriate tuition and fees. Winners attending a private institution will also be awarded an amount equal to the public school award, but it may not cover the full cost of attendance. Winners also receive $300 per term for additional educational expenses. This is the most competitive Bright Futures award and has the most rigorous eligibility criteria.
Overview of FAS eligibility criteria for the class of 2025-26
3.5 weighted high school GPA
29+ ACT score
95+ CLT score
1330+ SAT score
100 hours of volunteer service hours
100 hours of paid work hours
Students must earn the required volunteer service hours, work hours or a combination that totals a minimum of 100 hours
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Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS)
The Florida Medallion Scholars program gives 75% funding to a public program of study. This includes 75% of all applicable tuition and fees. Students that choose a private institution will receive a comparable award but it may not cover the entire 75%. Consider this a less competitive program than the Florida Academic Scholars program. If you aren’t qualified for Florida Academic Scholars, you may still be able to cover 75% of your costs.
Quick overview of the FMS requirements (2025-26 graduates)
3.0 weighted high school GPA
24+ ACT
82+ CLT score
1190+ SAT score
75 hours of volunteer service hours
100 hours of paid work hours
Students must earn the required volunteer service hours, work hours or a combination that totals a minimum of 100 hours
Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars (GSC)
The Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars program offers a fixed number of payments per credit hour which changes depending on field of study. This program is aimed towards those individuals who have already completed an Associate’s degree and want to pursue a Bachelor’s degree. This program is less competitive than Florida Medallion Scholars and Florida Medallion Scholars. The GPA and test scores required from this particular program are less stringent.
Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV)
The Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars program awards a certain dollar amount per credit hour, but that dollar amount is different depending on the student’s program of study. This program is for students pursuing a certificate or vocational degree. It has less GPA and test score requirements than Florida Academic Scholars and Florida Medallion Scholars.
Specific program requirements
Now, let’s take a look at what each of the programs requires. It will give you an idea about which award you’re most likely to get.
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS)
The only requirement for a Florida Academic Scholars is to be at least a 3.5 weighted GPA. Along with that, they must receive at least a 29 score on the ACT, or a 95 on the CLT, or 1330 on the SAT and complete a minimum of 100 hours of service hours or 100 paid work hours.
Students must also have completed a set of high school coursework requirements. However, these requirements align with the state university system admission requirements. As such, any student considered for admission at a Florida school would meet these requirements.
Related: Top full ride scholarships for high school students
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS)
Florida Medallion Scholars must have at least a weighted 3.0 GPA. Students also have to get an ACT score of at least 24 or an 82 on the CLT or 1190 on the SAT. Lastly, students must do a minimum of 75 service hours, 100 paid work hours, or a combination of paid and service hours adding up to at least 100 hours.
Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars (GSC)
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 high school students who desire to qualify for the GSC must meet the following criteria:
Earn a minimum of 5 postsecondary credit hours through CAPE industry certifications articulate for college credit
Complete 30 volunteer service hours, 100 paid work hours or the combination of 100 total hours
Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV)
Students in a career education or certificate program may be eligible provided general Bright Futures requirements are met and they are currently enrolled. High school students who will pursue a career education or certificate program may be eligible based on the following:
Minimum weighted 3.0 GPA in non-elective high school courses
Earn a minimum of 3 credits in one Career and Technical Education program
Maintain a minimum 3.5 unweighted cumulative GPA in career education courses
Perform a minimum of 30 service hours (See COVID exceptions in service hour requirements below)
Must attain the minimum scores in one of the following assessments: ACT, SAT or Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT)
Award amounts
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS)
100% of tuition and fees at all public Florida institution or equivalent dollar amount at private institutions
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS)
75% of tuition and fees at all public Florida institutions or equivalent dollar amount at private institutions
Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars (GSC)
Career certificate program: $39 per credit hour
Applied technology diploma program: $39 per credit hour
Technical degree education program: $49 per credit hour
Bachelor’s of science or bachelor’s of applied science program : $49 per credit hour
Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV)
Career certificate program: $39 dollars per credit hour
Applied technology diploma program: $39 dollars per credit hour
Technical degree education program: $48 dollars per credit hour
Bachelor’s of science or bachelor’s of applied science program: $48 dollars per credit hour
Other ways to qualify for FAS and FMS Scholarships
Students not meeting the test requirements as stated above may still be considered for FAS or FMS eligibility. If you have been awarded any of the following, then you are EXEMPT from testing requirements:
National Merit Finalist and Scholars
National Hispanic Scholars
Advanced International Certificate of Education
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Renewal requirements
Students who have received Bright Futures’s funds during an academic year are not required to reapply but, in its place, automatically reviewed at the end of the spring term. You will need to have a minimum cumulative GPA, depending on the program you participate in to receive automatic renewal.
And, remember: failure to meet the minimum credit hours and minimum GPA requirement will render you ineligible to continue or reapply for a Bright Futures program. So, be sure that you are on your A-game if granted a Bright Futures scholarship!
Here are the minimum requirements for GPA for the following programs:
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS): 3.0 GPA
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS): 2.75 GPA
Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV): 2.75 GPA
List of schools eligible for bright futures scholarship requirements
You can use Bright Futures at any approved program in the state of Florida, public or private. This includes community colleges. Here is a sampling of some schools that you can use the scholarship funds at. For a more extensive list, check out our full list of the top Florida colleges.
University of Florida
Florida State
University of South Florida
The University of Miami
University of Central Florida
Santa Fe College
Tallahassee Community College
Valencia College
Key Takeaways
In order to be eligible for a Bright Futures Scholarship, you will need to be a Florida resident who is earning or has earned a Florida high school diploma and intend on attending a postsecondary institution in Florida.
There are several levels to the scholarship depending on award amount and requirements of coursework, GPA and test scores
To apply to the Bright Futures scholarship, you must submit an application, the Florida Financial Aid Application before August 31 of your graduation year
