Program
The Bright Futures program allows Florida high school seniors with significant academic merit to earn a scholarship to any public college/University in the state. It also offers the same funds to students attending a private college in Florida. This scholarship does not apply if the student chooses to attend college outside the state of Florida and the scholarship may only be earned while in high school. There are also retention requirements in both G.P.A. and credit-hour academic load.
The program is divided into 3 types of grant and is designed to meet needs of three distinct groups in Florida higher education. As of the 2011-2012 academic year, each pays a fixed amount award to a specific recipient group. The Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) program (formerly known for paying 100% of tuition and mandatory fees) pays the highest amount of any award. It was conceived at helping the high school "A-Student" afford a 4-year degree and pays $101 per semester credit-hour. The Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) program (formerly known for paying 75% of university or 100% of community college tuition and fees) was designed to motivate high school "B-students" to strive for College as well and pays $76 per credit-hour. The final program, the Florida Gold Seal Vocational (GSV) scholars program was designed to facilitate a post-high school vocational degree and also pays $76 per semester credit hour. All payments mentioned are for work done at 4-year universities. Other rates apply at different institutions, like community colleges. There is also a new program awarding extra funds to the top scholar in each school district.
A SAT score of 1270 (counting only the critical reading and mathematics sections) or ACT composite score of 28, minimum weighted high school academic GPAof 3.5 and 100 hours of community service is required to earn a FAS Award. The testing requirements will increase to a 1290 or a 29 on the SAT or ACT respectively for the high school class of 2014. The Requirements for FMS are 980 on the SAT or 21 on the ACT and 75 hours of community service. By 2014, the testing requirements on the SAT and ACT will adjust to 1170 and 26, respectively.
The scholarship only applies to undergraduate coursework (unless some graduate level classes are required for a bachelor's degree). Those who complete their undergraduate coursework in seven or fewer semesters may apply up to 15 award hours toward their graduate tuition. Summer semesters are currently not eligible for bright futures funding, even though most Florida Public Universities require at least six credits to be earned through summer study. This requirement can generally be satisfied by Advanced Placement or CLEP examination.
From 1997 through 2007, the scholarships paid fixed percentages of tuition and mandatory fees. FAS (100%) also included a book stipend up to $300 per semester. Beginning with the budget cuts caused by the economic downturn from a slump in Florida's real estate market, the Florida Legislature decoupled tuition from the scholarship by changing the system to pay fixed-dollar amounts. Ideas had been circulated to raise the standards to qualify for the grants, but concerns of impact to minority and disadvantaged students paused such legislation until subsequent budget cuts forced changes. In addition, differential tuition was added as a way to boost funding to Universities. Bright Futures funds were not allowed to cover such costs.
Read more about this topic: Bright Futures Scholarship Program
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