Bright Futures
The Florida Department of Education, Tallahassee, Florida, administers a program to encourage outstanding high school graduates to enroll in post-secondary Vocational or Workforce programs in the state. Students enrolled in a full-time certificate or degree program are eligible for this award. Applications must be filed by April 1 of the student’s last year in high school, and the student must receive a standard high school diploma. For more information: www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org.
The Bright Futures Scholarship provides four scholarship awards to students:
- Academic Scholars Award
- Top Scholars Award
- Medallion Scholars Award
- Gold Seal Vocational Award
The amount of the scholarship award must be calculated each semester at the end of the drop-add period. A description of the calculation of each award is as follows:
- Academic Scholars Award:
- Provides a flat amount per credit hour of enrollment, determined annually through the legislative process.
- Requires maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in postsecondary work and completion of at least twelve credit hours in the academic year for renewal.
- Top Scholars Award: Formerly known as the Challenger Award
- Awarded to the top student in each county who received an Academic Scholars Award.
- Provides a flat amount per credit hour of enrollment, determined annually through the legislative process.
- Medallion Scholars Award:
- Provides a flat amount per credit hour of enrollment, determined annually through the legislative process.
- Requires maintaining a 2.75 or higher grade point average in postsecondary work and completion of at least twelve credit hours in the academic year for renewal.
- Gold Seal Vocational Award:
- Provides a flat amount per credit hour of enrollment, determined annually through the legislative process.
- Students must maintain a 2.75 or higher grade point average in postsecondary work and complete at least twelve credit hours in the academic year for renewal.
Students are not required to submit a FAFSA in order to receive both initial and renewal Bright Future eligibility. Students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA to learn of potential eligibility for additional state and federal aid.
Repayment:
- Students will be required to repay their award hours for any course dropped or withdrawn, unless an exception is recommended by the student’s home postsecondary institution, and the student does not receive a refund of fees which would repay the amount due. An exception will be granted only for a verifiable illness or emergency beyond the control of the student.
- Repayment for the cost of dropped or withdrawn courses is required to renew a Bright Futures award for the subsequent academic year. Hours repaid for dropped or withdrawn courses are added back to the student’s total semester hours available, and are not included in the student’s total credit hours required to renew the award. Nonpayment of dropped or withdrawn Bright Futures award hours may also affect renewal eligibility for other state programs.
Renewal Requirements:
All Bright Futures recipients are required to meet the minimum credit hour and GPA requirements to renew their award each year. Students enrolled full time for both semesters are required to earn at least 24 semester hours in order to renew their award at the end of each academic year. For students not enrolled full time for both semesters, the hours required to renew are prorated
Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement
