The Bright Futures scholarship is an interesting opportunity for Florida residents to earn a full ride to college. But in addition to being a high-paying opportunity, it is highly competitive and has a strict set of requirements.
The requirements stated in the Bright Futures handbook can be overwhelming and may deter students from applying.
So, we’ve done the tedious work for you and made the requirements more readable! Read on to understand all about the Bright Futures scholarship requirements.
Our content covers the Academic Scholars, Medallion Scholars, Gold Seal CAPE Scholars, and Gold Seal Vocational Scholars programs. We’ll also cover the ways in which requirements have been changed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Requirements for all Bright Futures Scholarships
Each Bright Futures program has a different taste in requirements, but there are a few that they all share. Here are the requirements you have to meet in order to qualify for any Bright Futures program. You have to:
- Be a Florida citizen and a US citizen or eligible noncitizen. Irrespective of where your parents live, as long as you are a Florida resident, you are eligible.
- Obtain a diploma from a Florida high school or its equivalent. You can earn this diploma from a public high school or a certified private high school.
- Be enrolled, or enrolling, for a minimum of six credit hours per semester.
- Complete the Florida Financial Aid Application before August 31 of your graduation year.
- Enroll in a postsecondary study in the state of Florida.
- Not have been charged with a felony.
Differences Between the Bright Futures Programs
If you meet all the requirements mentioned above, congratulations! You are certainly in the running for a Bright Futures scholarship.
Our next step will be to present an overview of each Bright Futures program. We’ll show you what the award amounts are and what educational paths they are meant for.
Once you find the one that suits you, read on to learn about each program’s requirements.
1. Florida Academic Scholars
The Florida Academic Scholars program offers 100% funding for a public program of study. This covers all applicable tuition and fees.
Students who choose a private institution will get a comparable award, but it may not cover the entire cost. Winners also get $300 per semester for additional educational costs.
This is the most competitive Bright Futures program and has the toughest requirements.
2. Florida Medallion Scholars
The Florida Medallion Scholars program offers 75% of funding for a public program of study. This covers 75% of all applicable tuition and fees.
Students who choose a private institution will get a comparable award, but it may not cover the entire 75%.
This program is less competitive, unlike the Florida Academic Scholars program. So, if you do not qualify for Florida Academic Scholars, you may still be able to cover 75% of your costs.
3. Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars
The Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars program offers a fixed payment per credit hour, which varies with the program of study.
The program is designed for students who have already received an associate’s degree and are pursuing a bachelor’s. This program is less competitive than Florida Medallion Scholars and Florida Medallion Scholars.
Its GPA and test score requirements are not too strict.
In conclusion, to be eligible for a Bright Futures Scholarship, you must be a resident of the state. The scholarship has several different levels with varying award amounts and different requirements in terms of coursework, GPA, and test scores.
To apply for the Bright Futures scholarship, you have to fill out the Florida Financial Aid Application before August 31 of your graduation year.
