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Florida Bright Futures Scholarship 2025: How to Qualify and How Much You Get

GradeToGrad Team

April 3, 2026

Bright Futures is Florida's merit-based scholarship covering up to 100% of tuition at any Florida public university. Here's the GPA and test score requirements, award amounts, and how to keep it once you have it.

What Is Bright Futures?

The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is a merit-based state scholarship for Florida high school graduates attending eligible Florida colleges and universities. Unlike most state grants, Bright Futures is based entirely on academic merit — not financial need.

There are three award levels:

Award Level	Tuition Coverage	Additional Stipend
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS)	100% of tuition + fees	$300/semester for full-time
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS)	75% of tuition + fees	None
Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV)	75% of tuition + fees	Career/vocational programs only

Eligibility Requirements

Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) — Full Tuition

Requirement	Minimum
Weighted GPA	3.5
SAT Score	1290 (combined Reading + Math)
ACT Score	29
Community Service	100 hours
Graduation from FL high school	Required

Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) — 75% Tuition

Requirement	Minimum
Weighted GPA	3.0
SAT Score	1170
ACT Score	25
Community Service	75 hours
Graduation from FL high school	Required

All levels require: Florida residency, US citizenship or eligible non-citizen status, and enrollment at an eligible Florida public or private institution.

How to Apply

Bright Futures is automatically considered when you complete the Free Application for Florida Financial Aid (FAFSA or FFAA) — there is no separate Bright Futures application.

Your high school submits your GPA and test scores to the Florida Department of Education. You can check your eligibility status at FloridaStudentFinancialAidSG.org.

Key deadline: Apply for Florida financial aid by May 15 of your high school senior year for priority consideration.

Using Bright Futures at Florida Community Colleges

Bright Futures applies at Florida College System (FCS) institutions — all 28 state colleges — as well as at the 12 State University System (SUS) universities.

For community college students: Bright Futures covers 75–100% of CC tuition depending on your award level. Combined with Pell Grant (for eligible students), your out-of-pocket tuition cost may be $0.

When you transfer to a 4-year university, Bright Futures transfers with you — provided you've maintained the renewal GPA requirements.

Renewal Requirements

To keep Bright Futures each academic year:

Award Level	Minimum Semester GPA	Minimum Credits per Semester
FAS	3.0	12 credits (full-time)
FMS	2.75	12 credits (full-time)

You can drop to part-time (6–11 credits) but receive a proportionally reduced award. Dip below the GPA thresholds and you lose the scholarship — reinstatement is limited to one appeal.

The Bottom Line

For Florida high school students with a 3.0+ GPA, Bright Futures is one of the most valuable state scholarships in the country — and it requires no financial need. Hit the GPA and test score minimums, complete community service hours, graduate from a Florida high school.

Use GradeToGrad to compare Florida universities by net price after Bright Futures is applied.