🎓 Florida State Grants and Scholarships: What You Actually Qualify For

Florida has some of the best state scholarships in the country — but only if you file the right forms, in the right order. That’s where most families stumble. This guide lays out exactly what you need to do, what you can get, and how to make sure you don’t miss free money.

📘 Step 1: Know Which Application to Use

Florida uses two different systems for financial aid:

FAFSA – Required for federal aid and some state programs. Needed if your kid might go out of state or qualify for Pell Grants.
GSFAPP – Florida’s own aid application. Required for most in-state aid.

💡 How to Apply: Most Florida state aid is awarded through the GSFAPP — Florida’s state aid application. Bright Futures uses a separate Bright Futures application. If your kid might go out of state or needs federal Pell Grants, you’ll also need to complete the FAFSA. (Both the student and parent need accounts.)

🎯 Step 2: Bright Futures Scholarships

Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) – 100% tuition & applicable fees (~$212/credit) + $44/hour Academic Top Scholar bonus.
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) – 75% tuition & applicable fees (~$159/credit).
Gold Seal Vocational (GSV) – ~$39/credit for career certificate programs.
Gold Seal CAPE (GSC) – ~$49/credit for some applied technical programs.
Academic Top Scholar (ATS) – Additional $44/hour for top-ranked FAS students.

💰 Step 3: Need-Based and First-Gen Aid

Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG) – Up to $2,610/year based on financial need.
First Generation Matching Grant – Varies by college, but designed for students whose parents did not graduate from college.
José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant – $2,000/year for Hispanic students with financial need and academic merit.
Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship – Up to $3,000/year for students attending Bethune-Cookman or Florida A&M.
Rosewood Family Scholarship – Up to $6,100/year for direct descendants of Rosewood families.

📚 Step 4: Extra Help You Might Miss

Open Door Grant – Covers short-term workforce training programs at state colleges or technical centers.
Law Enforcement Reimbursement – Tuition + fee reimbursement for students in criminal justice or police programs who commit to work in Florida law enforcement.
Veterans’ Dependent Scholarship – Full tuition for dependents of Florida veterans who died or were disabled in service.
Randolph Bracy Ocoee Scholarship – $6,100/year for descendants of Ocoee massacre victims or students from Ocoee-area schools.

🏫 Florida Colleges to Watch

These are Florida’s major public universities — and many offer their own scholarships in addition to state aid. We’ll be building out pages for each one soon.

✅ Want reminders or help navigating all this? Grab the free Starter Kit — it walks you through what matters, when it matters.