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Bright Futures and Scholarships

Florida Bright Futures Information:

logo_bfThe Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program has helped more than 500,000 Florida students attend a postsecondary institution. The program offers three levels of scholarship awards – the Florida Academic Scholars award (FAS), the Florida Medallion Scholars award (FMS), and the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award (GSV).

Student Responsibilities: It is the student’s responsibility to know and meet the requirements of the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program before high school graduation and throughout your college career. To learn more about these requirements go to www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org.

Class of 2023 Seniors can begin to apply for Florida Bright Futures Scholarship beginning October 01, 2022. To apply for a Bright Futures Scholarship, students must submit a completed, error-free Initial Student Florida Financial Aid Application during their senior year in high school (after October 1 and prior to graduation). You must apply during your last year in high school, before graduation, or you will forfeit all future eligibility for a Bright Futures Scholarship. To apply online, visit www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org.

The FFAA application gives the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) permission to evaluate your high school transcript and test scores for eligibility for state scholarships and grants, including a Bright Futures Scholarship. You may apply prior to meeting all requirements.

After submitting an Initial Student Florida Financial Aid Application, students will: create a personal User ID online, update their demographic information (on the original application), as necessary, and monitor their Financial Aid Recipient History (award status) online. Students are responsible for checking their application and award status. It is also the student’s responsibility to provide their correct name, address, date of birth and social security number, and to inform us of any changes. PMHS guidance department will automatically submit all student transcripts directly to Bright futures.

Bright Futures 2021 Application Guide

Bright-Futures-Initial-Eligibility-2020-2021

Naviagting-Your-Financial-Future-October-November

Navigating-Your-Financial-Future-August-September-2020

General Bright Futures Eligibility:

  • Be a Florida resident and U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen as determined by your postsecondary institution
  • Enroll in an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary institution
  • Enroll in a minimum of 6 hours per term (or the equivalent)
  • Begin using the scholarship funds within two years of graduation
  • Must not be found guilty of, or plead no contest to, a felony charge
  • Must apply during your last year in high school – Application opens October 1st, 2020, and closes on graduation date.
  • Students may continue to take the SAT or ACT through December 2021 to obtain the eligibility scores for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarships.

Florida Academic Scholarship eligibility:

  • 3.5 Weighted GPA
  • 16 credits of college prep courses – English, Math, Science, SS and World Language
  • 100 hours of community service
  • 1290 minimum SAT score (reading/writing & math only no Essay) or 29 minimum composite ACT Score (without Writing)

FAS currently pays 100% tuition and fees at a Florida public university (comparative amount to be awarded to a Florida Private University) and also awards students $300 education expense per semester.  

Florida Medallion Scholarship eligibility:

  • 3.0 Weighted GPA
  • 16 credits of college prep courses – English, Math, Science, SS and World Languages
  • 75 hours of community service
  • 1170 minimum SAT score (reading/writing & math only – No Essay) or 26 minimum composite ACT Score (without Writing)

FMS currently pays 75% tuition and fees at a Florida public university (comparative amount to be awarded to a Florida Private University).

Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars eligibility: 

  • 3.0 or higher weighted GPA in non-elective high school courses
  • 3 full credits in a single Career and Technical Education Program and earn a 3.5 or higher unweighted GPA in these courses
  • 30 hours of community service
  • Achieve qualifying test score requirements: ACT – English: 17, Reading: 19 and Math: 19  or SAT (January 2016 and prior scores) – Critical Reading/Writing: 440 and Math: 440 or SAT (March 2016 and thereafter) Reading: 24, Writing: 25 and Math: 24  or PERT – Reading: 106, Writing: 103 and Math: 114

Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholarship eligibility:

  • Earn a minimum of five postsecondary credit hours through CAPE Industry Certifications which articulate for college credit
  • Complete at least 30 hours of service work approved by the district school board

Please note that Gold Seal Scholarship funds can only be used at one of the following programs:

  • Career Certification Program (PSAV)
  • Applied Technology Diploma Program (ATD)
  • Technical Degree Education Program – AS, AAS or CCC

2022-2023 Scholarships

St. Johns County School District Guidance Scholarship Page

Coalition Application (college resources and applications)

Florida Shines (college and career resources)

Common App (college resources and applications)

Florida Student Scholarship and Grant Programs (Bright Futures and related scholarships)

Florida Bright Futures Handbook

Scholarships.com

FAFSA and Federal Student Aid

Fast Web (scholarship search)

Campus Reel (St. Johns County Scholarships)

Fun4AuggieKids Scholarship (St. Johns County Scholarships)