If you’re raising a student in Florida, the Bright Futures Scholarship Program is one opportunity you don’t want to miss. Funded by the Florida Lottery, Bright Futures provides financial support to eligible high school graduates who attend college or technical school in Florida. Eligibility is based on academic achievement, volunteer, or work experience, and timely application, so it pays to plan ahead.
There are four Bright Futures award levels, each with its own eligibility criteria and benefits:
- Florida Academic Scholars (FAS): Covers 100% of tuition and applicable fees.
- Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS): Covers 75% of tuition and applicable fees.
- Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV): Supports students pursuing career certificates, technical degrees, or applied technology diplomas.
- Gold Seal CAPE Scholars (GSC): Supports students who complete a CAPE associate degree and continue toward a bachelor’s degree in science or applied science.
While Bright Futures covers a set percentage of tuition at Florida’s public colleges and universities, students attending private institutions receive a fixed dollar amount per credit hour instead.
Each award level has specific GPA, coursework, and test score requirements. The full breakdown is available in the Bright Futures Student Handbook at floridabrightfutures.gov.
Students apply for Bright Futures their senior year of high school by submitting the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA), typically available Oct. 1. The deadline to complete the application is Aug. 31 of a student’s graduating year. For the Class of 2026, that means submitting a completed FFAA no later than Aug. 31, 2026.
All Bright Futures award levels require either volunteer service hours, paid work hours, or a combination. In Collier County Public Schools, students may choose where they would like to volunteer but must have the organization approved by the school district in advance.
After selecting and getting approval for an organization, students submit a proposal signed by a parent or guardian and the school counselor and track their hours (or upload pay stubs, if they are working) through the Service Hours app. Students may begin accumulating volunteer/work hours as early as freshman year of high school.
While most requirements must be met by graduation, students have until Aug. 31 of their graduation year to meet the ACT, CLT, SAT, or PERT score minimums.
Once awarded, Bright Futures funds are sent directly to the college or institution the student is attending. As long as the student maintains the renewal requirements (like GPA and credit hours), the scholarship automatically renews each year, up to the program limit.
While the requirements may seem overwhelming at first, the Bright Futures program rewards consistency and effort.
Start the conversation early, track progress often, and don’t be afraid to reach out to school counselors for guidance.
With some planning and persistence, this scholarship can make college or career education in Florida significantly more affordable.
Additional Resources
Local Scholarships Often Go Unclaimed in Collier and Lee Counties
$20,000 Scholarship Applications Now Open for Collier County Seniors