Bright Futures Scholarship checklist

Bright Futures is Florida's merit scholarship program for Florida high school graduates who enroll at eligible Florida postsecondary institutions. This page is a checklist of steps, not a calculator, and it gives no eligibility verdict. Requirements move by class year, so every step below links to the official requirements page for the current numbers.

The checklist

  1. Create an OSFA student account and submit the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA). The FFAA opens October 1 of senior year and must be submitted by August 31 after high school graduation. Apply even before all other requirements are met.
  2. Complete the 16 required college-prep credits. The required coursework is set by the program; see the official requirements page for the credit list for your class year.
  3. Meet the GPA requirement for your tier. The required GPA is calculated by the state from the required courses and may differ from the GPA printed on a transcript. See the official Bright Futures requirements for the GPA for your tier and class year.
  4. Complete the service or paid-work hours requirement. See the official Bright Futures requirements for the hours for your tier and class year, and for how volunteer hours and paid work hours combine.
  5. Take the SAT, ACT, or CLT and send scores so the state receives them. See the official Bright Futures requirements for the score floors for your tier and class year, and for the last test date that counts.
  6. Check your OSFA account for your award notice and keep your institution choice and personal information updated. Award notices begin after 7th semester evaluations. If your plans change, update the institution on file so the award goes to the right school.
  7. Know the two tiers. Florida Academic Scholars covers 100% of tuition and applicable fees. Florida Medallion Scholars covers 75%.

Two warnings that cost students the award

The FFAA is not the FAFSA. The FFAA is the Bright Futures application, submitted to the Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance. The FAFSA is the federal aid form. Filing one does not file the other.

Missing the August 31 FFAA deadline means no award. Even a strong record does not rescue a missed deadline. Put the August 31 date on the calendar at the start of senior year, not at the end of it.

Official Bright Futures requirements and application (OSFA)

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This page is not affiliated with the Florida Department of Education or the Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance. Requirements, award amounts, and deadlines change by class year and by legislative session, so confirm every requirement on the official page linked above before you apply. Facts on this page were checked on 2026-11-04.