The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program establishes three lottery-funded scholarships to reward Florida high school graduates for high academic achievement. The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is comprised of the following three awards:

Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) award
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) award
Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV) award
Initial Eligibility Requirements to Receive Funding
The student will:

  • Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. A student’s residency and citizenship status are determined by the postsecondary institution. Questions regarding such status should be directed to the financial aid office or admissions office of the institution the student plans to attend.
  • Not owe a repayment or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.
  • Meet specific coursework and minimum grade point average (GPA) and test score requirements which are outlined on the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) website www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org/SSFAD/bf/acadrequire.htm Opens in New Window .
  • ATS – The Academic Top Scholars award, announced by the Florida Department of Education before the end of the fall term after all term one disbursements are reported, is awarded to the Florida Academic Scholar with the highest academic ranking in each county (based on the product of multiplying the Bright Futures GPA and the highest qualifying SAT/ACT test score). The recipient receives a cost per credit hour award established by the Florida Legislature in the General Appropriations Act in addition to the Florida Academic Scholars award. For current year award amounts visit: Opens in New Window www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org/SSFAD/bf/awardamt.htm.Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA does not have to indicate financial need; however, must be complete and processed error free prior to a student’s first disbursement. Visit the website at www.fafsa.ed.gov Opens in New Window for online processing.

Applying for an Award
For Initial Eligibility the student will:

  • Submit a fully completed error free Initial Student Florida Financial Aid Application Opens in New Window during the last year in high school (after December 1 and prior to graduation) available online at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org Opens in New Window (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 the last year in high school, before graduation, or forfeit all future eligibility for a Bright Futures Scholarship.