Florida Poly is the state’s only public university that does nothing but STEM. It opened its doors in 2014, sits on I-4 in Lakeland between Tampa and Orlando, and has grown past 2,300 students. Nine out of ten freshmen are Floridians, which means the out-of-state students who do show up get noticed, and the merit grid is built to reward them. Admission has also loosened: about 75% of applicants were admitted for fall 2025, up from roughly 57% the year before.
🏆 Full tuition available automatically (Presidential Scholarship, in-state and out-of-state)
Average Net Price
$13,016/year (in-state estimate)
Average paid for residents.
Automatic Merit
$1,000 to $23,300/yr
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
14 opportunities
10 automatic · 2 competitive · 2 hidden gem
Typical Qualifiers
Recalculated GPA 3.0+ with SAT 970+ / ACT 19+ (or 2.5 GPA with SAT 1300+)
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-required (SAT, ACT or CLT)
Superscores ACT/SAT.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Dec 15 • FAFSA: Jan 1
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Presidential Scholarship (automatic, no separate application)
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Florida Poly (Read This First)
The GPA on the scholarship grid is not your transcript GPA. Florida Poly recalculates it using core classes only, adding a full point for AP, IB, AICE and dual enrollment and half a point for honors. Run your student’s numbers through the school’s estimator before you guess a tier.
Test scores are required, and every point counts. Florida Poly superscores the SAT, ACT and CLT, and the grid is built on score bands. One more sitting that moves a 1290 to a 1300 can be worth more than $10,000 a year for an out-of-state student.
Out-of-state students can pay zero tuition. The top automatic award is set at the full $23,300 non-resident bill. That number starts in spring 2027, so older websites quoting $21,005 are out of date.
May 1 is the merit deadline, but December 15 is the one that matters. The $40,000 Alexander Scholars award goes to students whose complete file is in by mid-December and whose admissions counselor nominates them. You cannot apply for it directly.
Full-time every semester or the money stops. Scholarships need 12+ credits each fall and spring, pay nothing in summer, and require a 2.0 GPA after year one and a 2.5 after that.
The STEM waiver can shrink a merit award in junior year. Florida residents in Computer, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering can get 50% off upper-division tuition, but institutional scholarship dollars are reduced by the waiver amount.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? No. Florida Polytechnic University is test-required for admission.
Do you need test scores for scholarships at Florida Polytechnic University? Official SAT, ACT or CLT required for merit; Florida Poly superscores all three.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 23–29; SAT: 1130–1320.
Average net price? About $13,016/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No broad regional reciprocity path.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Florida Polytechnic University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Florida Polytechnic University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly
$400 to $1,000 more than the in-state total below.$800 to $1,900 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$20,441
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$4,940
Housing & meals (typical)
$15,501
Total billed cost
$20,441
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$38,801
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$23,300
Housing & meals (typical)
$15,501
Total billed cost
$38,801
That is $18,360 more per year than Florida residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $13,016 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
Out-of-State? Here Is How the Bill Actually Comes Down
Florida Poly does not do regional tuition exchanges, so the out-of-state discount comes almost entirely from the automatic merit grid. At the top, the Presidential Scholarship erases the full $23,300 tuition bill. The Provost ($12,500) and Phoenix ($10,000) tiers cut it roughly in half. A handful of students with a Florida grandparent can also land one of about five Grandparent Waivers per class, which bills them at the resident rate. Housing and food, about $15,500 a year, is the part every family pays either way.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Florida Poly
Why do some sites say out-of-state tuition is $21,005 and others say $23,300?
The out-of-state fee rises to $586.50 per credit starting spring 2027, which brings a full year to $23,300. Students starting in fall 2027 should plan on the higher number. In-state tuition and fees stay at $4,940, among the lowest of any public university in the country.
Is Florida Poly part of the Academic Common Market or any tuition reciprocity deal?
No. There is no regional exchange. Out-of-state students lower the price through the automatic merit grid, the Grandparent Waiver, or need-based aid.
How does the Grandparent Waiver work?
If a grandparent is a legal Florida resident and your student scores at the 89th national percentile or higher on the SAT or ACT, they can apply to be billed at in-state rates, a savings of about $18,360 a year. Florida Poly gets only about five per incoming class, given first-come by the date the $200 deposit is paid, so apply as soon as your student is admitted.
What does Bright Futures cover here?
Florida Academic Scholars covers 100% of tuition and applicable fees, and Medallion Scholars covers 75%, about $3,705 a year. On the Bright Futures application, list Florida Poly and pick “Term 1” and “Term 2.” Drop a class after drop/add and you owe that money back before any future Bright Futures payment is released.
What does housing really cost?
On-campus rooms run about $4,068 to $6,154 per semester depending on the hall and layout, and first-year residents must buy a meal plan ($2,664 or $3,100 per semester). Florida Poly’s budget uses $15,501 a year for housing and meals. Rooms are first-come, first-served after the deposit, so do not sit on the housing application.
Is the average net price really around $13,000?
That is the federal average for freshmen who received grants or scholarships, after that aid. Most of it is housing and food, since in-state tuition is so low. Out-of-state families without a big merit tier will pay a good deal more.
How do I become a Florida resident for tuition later?
The student (or a parent, for dependents) needs at least 12 consecutive months of legal residence in Florida that is not just for school, plus at least three qualifying documents. Moving down for college and renting an apartment does not count. Families should not plan on reclassification after freshman year.
December 15: Complete file in for Alexander Scholars consideration ($40,000 over four years).
January 1: FAFSA priority date for need-based grants (school code 042634).
March 1: National Merit Finalist paperwork due.
May 1: Automatic merit file complete, including official scores, and deposit due.
August 31: Last day to file the Florida Financial Aid Application for Bright Futures.
Parent rule of thumb: treat December 15 as your real deadline. Nothing good happens to a Florida Poly scholarship file that is finished in April.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Florida Poly
There is no separate scholarship application. Florida Poly places every first-time freshman on its merit grid using a recalculated weighted GPA and the best superscored SAT, ACT or CLT. Out-of-state students get much larger dollar amounts than Floridians for the same tier, and the top tier covers full tuition either way.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidFull TuitionAutomatic
Bright Futures Florida Academic Scholars
📅 Deadline: FFAA by Aug 31 after graduation; test by the same date ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 5 yrs)
Full Tuition
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~29 ACT✎ ~1330 SATFlorida resident; 3.5 weighted GPA in 16 core credits; 29 ACT / 1330 SAT / 95 CLT; 100 service or paid work hours; FFAA by Aug 31 after graduation, listing Florida Poly and choosing Term 1 and Term 2; no FAFSA needed.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers 100% of tuition and applicable fees at Florida Poly, about $4,940 for 30 credits. Stacks with Florida Poly merit, Pell and outside aid within the cost of attendance. Renewal takes a 3.0.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
3.5 students with a 29 ACT who logged the service hours and filed the FFAA. The hours are the quiet killer: a 1400 SAT does nothing without 100 documented hours. At Florida Poly, a course dropped after drop/add must be repaid before any future Bright Futures money is released.
State AidAutomatic
Bright Futures Florida Medallion Scholars
📅 Deadline: FFAA by Aug 31 after graduation; test by the same date ✓ Renews (2.75 GPA, 5 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~24 ACT✎ ~1190 SATFlorida resident; 3.0 weighted GPA in 16 core credits; 24 ACT / 1190 SAT / 82 CLT; 75 service hours or 100 paid work hours; FFAA by Aug 31 after graduation; no FAFSA needed.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers 75% of tuition and applicable fees, about $3,705 a year at Florida Poly. Stacks with Florida Poly merit, Pell and outside aid within the cost of attendance. Renewal takes a 2.75; below that, funding stops.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
3.0 students with a 24 ACT and the service hours. The 1190 SAT is the number that catches people: a 1180 with a 3.9 GPA gets nothing from Bright Futures, and there is no GPA-only path.
State AidFull TuitionAutomatic
Benacquisto Scholarship
📅 Deadline: NMSC first-choice designation deadline, then the college deadline ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
✔ Stackable
Florida resident National Merit Finalist who also receives an NMSC, corporate-sponsored, or college-sponsored National Merit award; name the college as first choice with NMSC before the offer is mailed; non-residents have not been accepted since 2022-23.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers the full in-state cost of attendance at Florida Poly, minus Bright Futures and the National Merit award, so the family pays nothing for tuition, fees, housing or food. Stacks with Bright Futures by design.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Florida resident National Merit Finalists who list Florida Poly as first choice with NMSC and also win an NMSC $2,500 or corporate-sponsored Merit award. Florida Poly does not appear as an NMSC college sponsor, so the college-sponsored route is not available here, which makes Benacquisto harder to unlock at Florida Poly than at a sponsor school.
State AidAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlyfirst generation
First Generation Matching Grant
📅 Deadline: FAFSA by Jan 1 (Florida Poly priority date) ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradFlorida resident; neither parent holds a bachelor's degree; must be a Pell Grant recipient at Florida Poly; full-time (12+ credits); FAFSA school code 042634. Florida Poly does not publish an award range.
✚
Stacking & Combining
State money matched by Florida Poly. Stacks with Pell, Bright Futures and Florida Poly merit. Requires Satisfactory Academic Progress and a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: First-generation Pell recipients who file the FAFSA by January 1. Florida Poly considers the highest-need, on-time filers first, so a March filer can find the pool already spent.
State AidAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG)
📅 Deadline: FAFSA by Jan 1 (Florida Poly priority date) ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradFlorida resident; must be a Pell Grant recipient at Florida Poly; full-time (12+ credits); FAFSA school code 042634; Satisfactory Academic Progress to keep it. Florida Poly does not publish an award range.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Need-based state grant that stacks with Pell, Bright Futures and Florida Poly merit. Funds are limited, so on-time FAFSA filers are considered first.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Pell-eligible Floridians who file the FAFSA by January 1. No separate application; the money simply shows up in the aid offer for students who filed early enough.
State AidAutomatic⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Programs of Strategic Emphasis (STEM) Waiver
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews
Varies
✘ Not stackable
🎓 UpperclassmenFlorida residents who completed at least 60 credits toward a bachelor's degree within two academic years of first enrolling at a Florida public college or university, taking upper-division (3000-4000) courses required for Computer, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering. First bachelor's degree only; not retroactive; cannot combine with other state mandatory waivers.
💡
Strategic Detail
50% off tuition and fees for eligible upper-division courses, after gift aid. The catch: students receiving Florida Poly institutional scholarships or discretionary waivers on tuition and fees have that award replaced by the STEM waiver up to the waiver's value, so the family's net savings can be smaller than 50%.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Floridians in CE, EE or ME who stayed on a full-time track from day one (60 credits in two years, with AP and dual enrollment credit helping). Families on a Florida Poly merit award should ask Financial Aid how the replacement rule changes their junior-year bill.
State AidApp Required
Grandparent Waiver (Out-of-State Fee)
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~5 winners/yrOut-of-state student with a grandparent who is a legal Florida resident; SAT or ACT at the 89th national percentile or higher; enroll full-time the summer or fall right after high school and stay full-time every fall and spring. Submit the Florida Poly Grandparent Waiver Application and documents to admissions@floridapoly.edu. Students who qualify for Florida residency should not apply.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Waives the out-of-state fees, which are worth about $18,360 a year at 2026-27 rates ($612 per credit). Good for up to 110% of the degree's required credits. Dropping to part-time ends it.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
The first five or so qualified students to pay the $200 deposit after their paperwork is complete. With roughly 5 waivers per incoming class, a family that waits until May is usually too late.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
🏫 4.0+ GPA✎ ~29 ACT✎ ~1300 SATFlorida residents and international students. Any path qualifies: 4.0+ GPA with SAT 1300+, ACT 29+ or CLT 92+; or 3.85+ GPA with SAT 1400+, ACT 32+ or CLT 101+.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One Florida Poly merit tier per student; the tiers do not add together. The award is split between fall and spring, pays nothing in summer, and sits alongside Bright Futures, Pell and outside scholarships within the cost of attendance. Heads up for junior year: a Computer, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering major who picks up the state STEM waiver can see this award reduced by the waiver amount.
💡
Strategic Detail
Fall 2027 first-time-in-college merit grid. Florida Poly uses its own recalculated weighted core GPA (AP, IB, AICE and dual enrollment +1.0; honors +0.5). The online estimator is only an estimate; the award is set after review of the complete file. Renewal per the 2025-26 catalog: full-time (12+ credits) every fall and spring, 2.0 cumulative GPA after the first year and 2.5 each year after, 67% completion, up to 4 years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 4.0 recalculated core GPA and a 1300 SAT, or a 3.85 with a 1400. Florida Poly's middle 50% SAT runs 1130 to 1320, so this is roughly the top quarter of the class on scores, and the recalculated GPA rewards a heavy AP, IB, AICE or dual enrollment load. For a Floridian it equals tuition and fees, so if Bright Futures already covers tuition, ask Financial Aid how the two share the bill.
🏫 3.9+ GPA✎ ~27 ACT✎ ~1200 SATFlorida residents and international students. Any path qualifies: 4.0+ GPA with SAT 1200-1299, ACT 27-28 or CLT 87-91; or 3.85-3.99 GPA with SAT 1200-1399, ACT 27-31 or CLT 83-100; or 3.65-3.84 GPA with SAT 1350+, ACT 31+ or CLT 97+.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One Florida Poly merit tier per student; the tiers do not add together. The award is split between fall and spring, pays nothing in summer, and sits alongside Bright Futures, Pell and outside scholarships within the cost of attendance. Heads up for junior year: a Computer, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering major who picks up the state STEM waiver can see this award reduced by the waiver amount.
💡
Strategic Detail
Fall 2027 first-time-in-college merit grid. Florida Poly uses its own recalculated weighted core GPA (AP, IB, AICE and dual enrollment +1.0; honors +0.5). The online estimator is only an estimate; the award is set after review of the complete file. Renewal per the 2025-26 catalog: full-time (12+ credits) every fall and spring, 2.0 cumulative GPA after the first year and 2.5 each year after, 67% completion, up to 4 years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: The 1200 to 1350 SAT student with a 3.85 to 4.0 recalculated GPA, which is the heart of Florida Poly's admitted pool. A 3.7 needs a 1350. Because all three tests are superscored, one more sitting is often the cheapest way to climb here from Phoenix.
🏫 3.7+ GPA✎ ~24 ACT✎ ~1100 SATFlorida residents and international students. Any path qualifies: 3.85+ GPA with SAT 1100-1199, ACT 24-26 or CLT 72-82; or 3.65-3.84 GPA with SAT 1100-1349, ACT 24-30 or CLT 72-96; or 3.25-3.64 GPA with SAT 1300+, ACT 29+ or CLT 92+.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One Florida Poly merit tier per student; the tiers do not add together. The award is split between fall and spring, pays nothing in summer, and sits alongside Bright Futures, Pell and outside scholarships within the cost of attendance. Heads up for junior year: a Computer, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering major who picks up the state STEM waiver can see this award reduced by the waiver amount.
💡
Strategic Detail
Fall 2027 first-time-in-college merit grid. Florida Poly uses its own recalculated weighted core GPA (AP, IB, AICE and dual enrollment +1.0; honors +0.5). The online estimator is only an estimate; the award is set after review of the complete file. Renewal per the 2025-26 catalog: full-time (12+ credits) every fall and spring, 2.0 cumulative GPA after the first year and 2.5 each year after, 67% completion, up to 4 years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with an 1100 to 1349 SAT (24 to 30 ACT) and a 3.65 to 3.99 recalculated GPA, plus lower-GPA students who post a 1300 or better. A big share of Florida Poly freshmen land in this tier.
Automatic
Solaris Scholarship (Florida Resident & International)
📅 Deadline: May 1 ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$1,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA✎ ~22 ACT✎ ~1000 SATFlorida residents and international students. Any path qualifies: 3.25+ GPA with SAT 1000-1099, ACT 22-23 or CLT 60-71; or 3.25-3.64 GPA with SAT 1000-1299, ACT 22-28 or CLT 60-91; or 3.0-3.24 GPA with SAT 1250+, ACT 28+ or CLT 88+.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One Florida Poly merit tier per student; the tiers do not add together. The award is split between fall and spring, pays nothing in summer, and sits alongside Bright Futures, Pell and outside scholarships within the cost of attendance. Heads up for junior year: a Computer, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering major who picks up the state STEM waiver can see this award reduced by the waiver amount.
💡
Strategic Detail
Fall 2027 first-time-in-college merit grid. Florida Poly uses its own recalculated weighted core GPA (AP, IB, AICE and dual enrollment +1.0; honors +0.5). The online estimator is only an estimate; the award is set after review of the complete file. Renewal per the 2025-26 catalog: full-time (12+ credits) every fall and spring, 2.0 cumulative GPA after the first year and 2.5 each year after, 67% completion, up to 4 years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students in the 1000 to 1299 SAT range with a 3.25 to 3.64 GPA, or a 3.0 with a 1250. Note the grid quirk: a 3.9 GPA with a 1050 SAT lands here, not higher, because the test band decides it.
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~19 ACT✎ ~970 SATFlorida residents and international students. Any path qualifies: 3.25+ GPA with SAT 970-999, ACT 19-21 or CLT 54-59; or 3.0-3.24 GPA with SAT 970-1249, ACT 19-27 or CLT 54-87; or 2.5-2.99 GPA with SAT 1300+, ACT 29+ or CLT 92+.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One Florida Poly merit tier per student; the tiers do not add together. The award is split between fall and spring, pays nothing in summer, and sits alongside Bright Futures, Pell and outside scholarships within the cost of attendance. Heads up for junior year: a Computer, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering major who picks up the state STEM waiver can see this award reduced by the waiver amount.
💡
Strategic Detail
Fall 2027 first-time-in-college merit grid. Florida Poly uses its own recalculated weighted core GPA (AP, IB, AICE and dual enrollment +1.0; honors +0.5). The online estimator is only an estimate; the award is set after review of the complete file. Renewal per the 2025-26 catalog: full-time (12+ credits) every fall and spring, 2.0 cumulative GPA after the first year and 2.5 each year after, 67% completion, up to 4 years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: The floor of the grid. Fewer than 3% of fall 2025 freshmen scored below 1000 on the SAT, so the GPA side usually decides this tier. A 2.5 to 2.99 student still gets in the door with a 1300 SAT.
Full TuitionAutomatic
Presidential Scholarship (Out-of-State)
📅 Deadline: May 1 ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
✔ Stackable
🏫 4.0+ GPA✎ ~29 ACT✎ ~1300 SATDomestic out-of-state students. Any path qualifies: 4.0+ GPA with SAT 1300+, ACT 29+ or CLT 92+; or 3.85+ GPA with SAT 1400+, ACT 32+ or CLT 101+.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One Florida Poly merit tier per student; the tiers do not add together. The award is split between fall and spring, pays nothing in summer, and sits alongside Bright Futures, Pell and outside scholarships within the cost of attendance. Heads up for junior year: a Computer, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering major who picks up the state STEM waiver can see this award reduced by the waiver amount.
💡
Strategic Detail
Fall 2027 first-time-in-college merit grid. Florida Poly uses its own recalculated weighted core GPA (AP, IB, AICE and dual enrollment +1.0; honors +0.5). The online estimator is only an estimate; the award is set after review of the complete file. Renewal per the 2025-26 catalog: full-time (12+ credits) every fall and spring, 2.0 cumulative GPA after the first year and 2.5 each year after, 67% completion, up to 4 years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state students with the same profile as the in-state Presidential. The award is pegged to the full non-resident tuition and fees of $23,300, which is why a strong out-of-state applicant can attend for roughly the price of housing and food. Only about 7% of first-year students come from out of state, so these applicants stand out.
Automatic
Provost Scholarship (Out-of-State)
📅 Deadline: May 1 ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$12,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.9+ GPA✎ ~27 ACT✎ ~1200 SATDomestic out-of-state students. Any path qualifies: 4.0+ GPA with SAT 1200-1299, ACT 27-28 or CLT 87-91; or 3.85-3.99 GPA with SAT 1200-1399, ACT 27-31 or CLT 83-100; or 3.65-3.84 GPA with SAT 1350+, ACT 31+ or CLT 97+.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One Florida Poly merit tier per student; the tiers do not add together. The award is split between fall and spring, pays nothing in summer, and sits alongside Bright Futures, Pell and outside scholarships within the cost of attendance. Heads up for junior year: a Computer, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering major who picks up the state STEM waiver can see this award reduced by the waiver amount.
💡
Strategic Detail
Fall 2027 first-time-in-college merit grid. Florida Poly uses its own recalculated weighted core GPA (AP, IB, AICE and dual enrollment +1.0; honors +0.5). The online estimator is only an estimate; the award is set after review of the complete file. Renewal per the 2025-26 catalog: full-time (12+ credits) every fall and spring, 2.0 cumulative GPA after the first year and 2.5 each year after, 67% completion, up to 4 years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Same profile as the in-state Provost, from out of state. $12,500 cuts the non-resident bill roughly in half, leaving tuition and fees near $10,800 before housing. If your student sits at a 1290, the jump to Presidential is worth more than $10,000 a year, so a retake is worth serious thought.
Automatic
Phoenix Scholarship (Out-of-State)
📅 Deadline: May 1 ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.7+ GPA✎ ~24 ACT✎ ~1100 SATDomestic out-of-state students. Any path qualifies: 3.85+ GPA with SAT 1100-1199, ACT 24-26 or CLT 72-82; or 3.65-3.84 GPA with SAT 1100-1349, ACT 24-30 or CLT 72-96; or 3.25-3.64 GPA with SAT 1300+, ACT 29+ or CLT 92+.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One Florida Poly merit tier per student; the tiers do not add together. The award is split between fall and spring, pays nothing in summer, and sits alongside Bright Futures, Pell and outside scholarships within the cost of attendance. Heads up for junior year: a Computer, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering major who picks up the state STEM waiver can see this award reduced by the waiver amount.
💡
Strategic Detail
Fall 2027 first-time-in-college merit grid. Florida Poly uses its own recalculated weighted core GPA (AP, IB, AICE and dual enrollment +1.0; honors +0.5). The online estimator is only an estimate; the award is set after review of the complete file. Renewal per the 2025-26 catalog: full-time (12+ credits) every fall and spring, 2.0 cumulative GPA after the first year and 2.5 each year after, 67% completion, up to 4 years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state students in the 1100 to 1349 SAT band with a 3.65+ recalculated GPA. $10,000 leaves tuition and fees around $13,300, which is still competitive with many home-state flagships for engineering.
Automatic
Solaris Scholarship (Out-of-State)
📅 Deadline: May 1 ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA✎ ~22 ACT✎ ~1000 SATDomestic out-of-state students. Any path qualifies: 3.25+ GPA with SAT 1000-1099, ACT 22-23 or CLT 60-71; or 3.25-3.64 GPA with SAT 1000-1299, ACT 22-28 or CLT 60-91; or 3.0-3.24 GPA with SAT 1250+, ACT 28+ or CLT 88+.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One Florida Poly merit tier per student; the tiers do not add together. The award is split between fall and spring, pays nothing in summer, and sits alongside Bright Futures, Pell and outside scholarships within the cost of attendance. Heads up for junior year: a Computer, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering major who picks up the state STEM waiver can see this award reduced by the waiver amount.
💡
Strategic Detail
Fall 2027 first-time-in-college merit grid. Florida Poly uses its own recalculated weighted core GPA (AP, IB, AICE and dual enrollment +1.0; honors +0.5). The online estimator is only an estimate; the award is set after review of the complete file. Renewal per the 2025-26 catalog: full-time (12+ credits) every fall and spring, 2.0 cumulative GPA after the first year and 2.5 each year after, 67% completion, up to 4 years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state students in the 1000 to 1299 SAT range. $5,000 helps, but tuition and fees still run about $18,300 and the full sticker price stays near $39,000, so run the Net Price Calculator before you commit.
Automatic
Merit Scholarship (Out-of-State)
📅 Deadline: May 1 ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~19 ACT✎ ~970 SATDomestic out-of-state students. Any path qualifies: 3.25+ GPA with SAT 970-999, ACT 19-21 or CLT 54-59; or 3.0-3.24 GPA with SAT 970-1249, ACT 19-27 or CLT 54-87; or 2.5-2.99 GPA with SAT 1300+, ACT 29+ or CLT 92+.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One Florida Poly merit tier per student; the tiers do not add together. The award is split between fall and spring, pays nothing in summer, and sits alongside Bright Futures, Pell and outside scholarships within the cost of attendance. Heads up for junior year: a Computer, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering major who picks up the state STEM waiver can see this award reduced by the waiver amount.
💡
Strategic Detail
Fall 2027 first-time-in-college merit grid. Florida Poly uses its own recalculated weighted core GPA (AP, IB, AICE and dual enrollment +1.0; honors +0.5). The online estimator is only an estimate; the award is set after review of the complete file. Renewal per the 2025-26 catalog: full-time (12+ credits) every fall and spring, 2.0 cumulative GPA after the first year and 2.5 each year after, 67% completion, up to 4 years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
The grid floor for out-of-state students. $2,500 against a $23,300 tuition bill is a small dent, so at this tier Florida Poly only pencils out if need-based aid or outside money fills the rest.
Data last verified Oct 31, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
The Full Fall 2027 Merit Grid
The tier finder above checks one path per tier. Florida Poly actually lets a higher GPA lower the test bar and vice versa, so check every row your student might hit.
Tier
Ways to Qualify (recalculated GPA + SAT / ACT / CLT)
Florida & International
Out-of-State
Presidential
4.0 + 1300 / 29 / 92; or 3.85 + 1400 / 32 / 101
$4,940
$23,300
Provost
4.0 + 1200-1299 / 27-28; or 3.85-3.99 + 1200-1399 / 27-31; or 3.65-3.84 + 1350 / 31 / 97
$3,000
$12,500
Phoenix
3.85 + 1100-1199 / 24-26; or 3.65-3.84 + 1100-1349 / 24-30; or 3.25-3.64 + 1300 / 29 / 92
$2,500
$10,000
Solaris
3.25 + 1000-1099 / 22-23; or 3.25-3.64 + 1000-1299 / 22-28; or 3.0-3.24 + 1250 / 28 / 88
$1,500
$5,000
Merit
3.25 + 970-999 / 19-21; or 3.0-3.24 + 970-1249 / 19-27; or 2.5-2.99 + 1300 / 29 / 92
$1,000
$2,500
Note: Amounts are per year for up to four years. Students receive one tier; the tiers do not stack with each other. Florida Poly’s FTIC Merit Scholarship Estimator gives a quick read, but the final award is set after the full file is reviewed.
Automatic Merit FAQs (Florida Poly)
When does my student need to apply to be considered?
The admission application and every supporting document, including official test scores, need to be in by May 1. Finishing by December 15 also puts your student in line for Alexander Scholars nomination.
Does Florida Poly superscore?
Yes, for all three tests. It takes the best section scores across sittings of the SAT, ACT and CLT. For ACT tests taken from April 2025 on, the composite uses English, Math and Reading only.
How is the GPA calculated?
Florida Poly recalculates it using core academic classes only. AP, IB, AICE and dual enrollment classes get an extra full point, and honors classes get an extra half point. A student with a heavy advanced load often lands higher on the grid than their transcript GPA suggests.
How much more do out-of-state students get?
A lot. The same tier pays between 2.5 and nearly 5 times more for an out-of-state student. The Presidential is set at the full $23,300 out-of-state tuition and fees.
Can my student get the Presidential and Bright Futures at the same time?
Both are designed around tuition, and total aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance. Florida Poly does not spell out how the two share the tuition line, so ask Financial Aid in writing whether the Presidential pays toward housing when Bright Futures already covers tuition.
What does it take to keep the scholarship?
Full-time enrollment (12+ credits) every fall and spring, a 2.0 cumulative GPA after the first year and a 2.5 each year after, and passing at least 67% of attempted credits. Awards last up to four years and do not pay in summer.
Can international students get these awards?
Yes. International students receive the same dollar amounts as Florida residents for each tier.
Florida Poly’s competitive list is short. The big one is the John R. Alexander Scholars Program, worth $40,000 over four years plus a laptop. There is no essay contest or interview weekend to enter. Students are nominated by their admissions counselor, so the move that matters is getting a complete application in by December 15.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Florida Poly?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
Parent Translation
Automatic Merit Grid
N/A
One tier per student. A Phoenix and a Solaris never add together.
Alexander Scholars
Ask
Florida Poly does not publish whether it replaces or adds to the merit tier. Get the answer in writing before you compare offers.
Bright Futures & Benacquisto
Yes, within cost of attendance
State money stacks with Florida Poly merit, but total aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance.
Pell, FSAG, First Generation Matching
Yes
Need-based money fills the gap. File the FAFSA by January 1 to be considered first.
STEM Waiver (junior year on)
Partly replaces
For CE, EE and ME majors, institutional scholarship dollars on tuition are reduced by the waiver amount.
If your student wants an interview-and-essay style full ride, Florida Poly is not that kind of school. Its generosity is built into the automatic grid, where a strong student can get full tuition with no extra application at all.
Automatic
John R. Alexander Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Dec 15 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Domestic first-time-in-college students. Students are nominated by their admissions counselor and reviewed after admission. Full-time, 12+ credits per semester.
✚
Stacking & Combining
$10,000 a year, $40,000 over four years, plus a laptop. Florida Poly does not publish how it combines with the automatic merit grid, so ask whether it replaces or adds to your student's tier before comparing offers.
💡
Strategic Detail
The program has promised automatic admission to Florida Poly's master's program for scholars who graduate in four years or less with a 3.4+ GPA. Florida Poly is restructuring that BS-to-MS pathway for Fall 2027 entry, with details due January 2027, so confirm what the master's benefit looks like for your student's class.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Florida Poly's highest-scoring admits. Past cohorts averaged around a 1513 to 1540 SAT, so this is realistically a 1450-plus award. The real gate is timing: the file must be complete by December 15 so the counselor can nominate, and families cannot apply on their own.
App Requirednational merit
Florida Poly National Merit Finalist Scholarship
📅 Deadline: March 1 ✓ Renews
$500/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~6 winners/yrNational Merit Finalists who listed Florida Poly as their first-choice school with NMSC. Up to six awarded. Full-time, 12+ credits per semester.
✚
Stacking & Combining
$500 per academic year on top of the student's merit tier. For a Florida resident, the bigger prize is Benacquisto, which needs an NMSC or corporate-sponsored award since Florida Poly is not an NMSC college sponsor.
📄
How to Apply
1. Apply for admission by March 1 with all documents. 2. Email financialaid@floridapoly.edu your NMSC Finalist notice plus proof that Florida Poly is your first-choice school with NMSC.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: The handful of Finalists who choose Florida Poly first. It is a small award; its real value is that naming Florida Poly first with NMSC is also the step that keeps Benacquisto in play.
Data last verified Oct 31, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Competitive Scholarship FAQs
How does a student get nominated for Alexander Scholars?
The admissions counselor nominates students after reviewing the application, and the file has to be complete by December 15. It helps for your student to introduce themselves to their counselor early. Past cohorts averaged SAT scores above 1500.
What does Alexander Scholars include?
$10,000 a year for four years, a laptop, and recognition at graduation. Florida Poly has also promised automatic admission to its master’s program for scholars who finish in four years with a 3.4 GPA or better. That BS-to-MS pathway is being restructured for fall 2027, with details due in January 2027, so confirm how it applies to your student’s class.
Does Florida Poly have a National Merit package?
A small one. Up to six National Merit Finalists who list Florida Poly first with NMSC receive $500 a year. Email your Finalist notice and first-choice proof to financialaid@floridapoly.edu by March 1.
Can a Florida National Merit Finalist get Benacquisto at Florida Poly?
Yes, but only if they also win an NMSC $2,500 or corporate-sponsored National Merit award. Florida Poly is not an NMSC college sponsor, so that third route is not available here. If Benacquisto is the plan, map it out before naming a first choice with NMSC.
Is there an athletic scholarship option?
Florida Poly launched its first NAIA teams in fall 2026. Ask the coaching staff directly, since the newest federal aid data shows no athletic awards yet.
Florida Poly is a young school, so its list of donor scholarships is short. Most of the extra money comes from the state and the federal government, and it only shows up if three forms are in on time:
FAFSA by January 1 (school code 042634). Pell, FSAG and the First Generation Matching Grant go to on-time filers first.
Florida Financial Aid Application listing Florida Poly, with “Term 1” and “Term 2” selected, so Bright Futures pays here.
Florida Residency Form in the admissions portal right after the deposit. Without it, a Floridian can be billed as out-of-state.
Parent translation: the merit grid is automatic, but the state money is not. Skip a form and your student can lose thousands without anyone telling you why.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards are narrow, but for the families they fit, they are some of the best money on campus. Both need a separate application.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlydisability
Theodore R. and Vivian M. Johnson Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1 ✓ Renews (2 GPA)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradFlorida resident for tuition; first bachelor's degree; financial need on the FAFSA; 2.0 GPA; documented disability (for example ADHD, autism spectrum, learning disability, hearing or vision loss, orthopedic or psychological disability). Funded by the Johnson Scholarship Foundation with a state match, awarded through the State University System.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Fills remaining need after other aid. Keep it with 9+ credits a semester (or 18 across fall, spring and summer), a 2.0 GPA and continuing unmet need. Renewal requires a new application each year.
📄
How to Apply
1. File the FAFSA. 2. Complete Florida Poly's Johnson Scholarship application (linked on the Undergraduate Financial Aid page). 3. Attach documentation, a one-page statement and two letters. 4. Return the acceptance form and attend orientation if selected.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Floridians with a documented disability and real unmet need who get the full packet in by May 1: transcript, disability documentation, a one-page personal statement and two reference letters. Few families know it exists, so the applicant pool is small.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyemployer
Dependents of Saddle Creek Employees Scholarship
📅 Deadline: April 15 Non-Renewable
$2,000–$5,000
✔ Stackable
⚠ Saddle Creek Logistics employees and their dependents only
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 All UndergradSaddle Creek Logistics associates and their dependents; Florida resident paying in-state tuition; 3.0 cumulative GPA; full-time (12+ credits). Florida Poly verifies employment before awarding.
✚
Stacking & Combining
$2,000 to $5,000 per semester depending on cost of attendance, applicant pool and available funds. Can be used toward any cost within the cost of attendance and stacks with merit and state aid. Renewal terms are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children of the Lakeland-based logistics company's employees. If a parent works for Saddle Creek, this is one of the richest single awards on campus, and the paper application is one page.
Data last verified Oct 31, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Who is the Johnson Scholarship for?
Florida residents with a documented disability and financial need, working on a first bachelor’s degree. That covers more students than families expect, including ADHD, autism spectrum, learning disabilities, and hearing or vision loss. The application is due May 1 and needs disability documentation, a one-page personal statement and two reference letters.
What is the Saddle Creek scholarship?
Saddle Creek Logistics is a Lakeland company. Employees and their dependents who are Florida residents with a 3.0 GPA can apply for $2,000 to $5,000 per semester. The one-page application is due April 15.
Does Florida Poly have a general scholarship portal for donor awards?
Not for incoming freshmen. Florida Poly’s own aid comes mostly through the automatic grid and the awards on this page. Its financial aid page points students to outside sources, including the Florida Engineering Society scholarships, which usually close in February.
Is there help for first-generation students?
Yes. The First Generation Matching Grant goes to Florida residents whose parents do not have a bachelor’s degree. At Florida Poly the student must also be a Pell recipient, and early FAFSA filers are considered first. It is listed with the state aid in the automatic section above.
What other waivers should I know about?
Florida waives tuition for students in foster care or adopted from the Department of Children and Families, and for students experiencing homelessness. Both require documentation sent to the Office of Financial Aid.
Honors at Florida Poly: There Isn’t a Separate Program
Florida Poly does not have an honors college or honors program. The school’s view is that every student already gets what honors programs sell elsewhere: small classes, hands-on lab work, faculty-led research open to undergraduates, and a senior capstone built around a real industry problem. Classes in the major typically run 20 to 25 students.
For families comparing offers, that cuts both ways. Your student won’t have to compete for an honors seat or pay an honors fee. But there is also no honors scholarship pool, no priority registration perk and no honors dorm to sweeten the deal.
This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.
Where High Achievers Go Instead
Alexander Scholars: the closest thing to an honors cohort, with $40,000 over four years, a laptop and a scholars luncheon.
Presidential Scholarship: full tuition on the automatic grid, in-state or out-of-state.
Undergraduate research: students can join faculty projects early instead of waiting for graduate school.
Specialized tracks: a B.S.-to-D.O. medical pathway with Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate program.
Honors FAQs (Florida Poly)
Can my student graduate with honors?
Yes, through Latin honors at graduation: cum laude for a 3.50 to 3.74, magna cum laude for 3.75 to 3.89, and summa cum laude for 3.90 and above, with at least 30 credits earned at Florida Poly.
Will Florida Poly add an honors program?
The school says it has none “at this time.” We will update this page if that changes.
Should a top student worry about being challenged?
Not usually. Every major is STEM, the curriculum is built with industry partners, and the capstone and research opportunities give strong students plenty of room to stand out.
Florida Poly is a school with one job: turn out engineers, computer scientists and data people who get hired. Every major is STEM. Nearly nine out of ten recent bachelor’s degrees went to computing (43%) or engineering (46%). If your student isn’t sure they want a technical career, this is not the place to figure it out.
Nationally Known Strength: Computer Science and Engineering. Computer Science is the most popular major on campus and is ABET-accredited, along with Computer, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. U.S. News ranks Florida Poly the #1 public regional college in the South and #16 among public engineering programs without a Ph.D. Graduates also post the highest median wage one year out of any Florida public university, about $66,800.
Computer Science, Cybersecurity & Data Science: the core of the school, with data science ranking among the most affordable strong programs in the country.
Engineering: Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Aerospace, Civil, Environmental and Industrial Engineering, plus Engineering Physics.
Applied Mathematics, Physics, Business Analytics and Biomedical Sciences: smaller programs. Biomedical Sciences connects to a B.S.-to-D.O. pathway with Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Career-first design: industry partners help shape the curriculum, sponsor senior capstone projects and recruit at fall and spring career fairs. Lakeland sits on the I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando.
🔗 Official Florida Poly Links
Use Florida Poly’s own pages below to check admissions details, scholarship rules, costs and data. Always rely on these for final deadlines and award terms.
Florida Poly is a small, focused bet: a STEM-only public university with rock-bottom in-state tuition, a merit grid that can wipe out tuition for strong students from any state, and graduates who out-earn every other Florida public university their first year out. The trade-off is that there is no honors program, no big donor scholarship pool, and not much room for a student who isn’t sure about a technical career.
Getting the most out of it comes down to a few moves. Know your student’s recalculated GPA, push the test score into the next band if it is close, finish the application by December 15, and file the FAFSA and Florida forms on time. Do that, and Florida Poly can be one of the best engineering values in the country.
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Written by Leo Dimilo
Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He went through the college money maze with his own daughter and built this site to give other families the plain-English version, free, with no paywall and no sales pitch.
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