🎓 Florida State University Scholarships & Aid Guide

← Back to Public University Scholarships

What This Page Covers:

Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
Automatic merit ranges and who typically qualifies
Competitive and hidden-gem scholarships worth a look
Honors perks and how to stack awards the smart way

If your student is looking at Florida State, you’re probably wondering what it’ll actually cost—and whether scholarships can bring that sticker price down. This guide gives you the real numbers, key strategies, and aid options for FSU families.

📊 Estimated Cost of Attendance at FSU (2025–2026)

Type	In‑State	Out‑of‑State
Tuition & Fees (est.)	≈ $6,000–$6,500	≈ $18,000–$19,000
Housing & Meals, Books & Travel, Personal	Included in COA average	Included in COA average
Estimated Total COA (before aid)	≈ $21,000–$22,000	≈ $34,000–$35,000

🌎 Out‑of‑State Tuition Waiver:
FSU offers limited out‑of‑state waivers—primarily for Honors College applicants or National Merit Finalists who list FSU as their first choice. Other aid opportunities are more limited.
In addition to this, FSU participates in the Academic Common Market (SREB) but only at the graduate level. For more information on what the academic common market is, check out our guide to understanding the Academic Common Market (ACM).

📉 Projected Net Price After Average Aid
According to federal data for first-time undergraduates who receive aid:

In‑State: ≈ $14,900 per year
Out‑of‑State: ≈ $14,900 per year*

*Average net price reflects heavy grant aid for in‑state students; out‑of‑state students typically report similar net costs if they qualify for substantial institutional or state-sponsored aid. The actual out-of-pocket cost varies widely—use FSU’s Net Price Calculator for personalized estimates.

💡 Don’t Miss State Aid: Florida residents may qualify for Bright Futures (FAS or FMS) scholarships, which can cover most or all tuition. Explore eligibility and benefits here:
👉 Florida State Grants & Scholarships

✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships (Florida State University)

⚠️ Honest heads‑up: FSU does not publish a public merit chart. Most awards are limited and holistic, so there’s no guaranteed “score X → award Y,” especially for non‑residents.

Scholarship	Award Amount (per year)	Eligibility (benchmarks)	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
University Freshman Scholarship	~$2,400–$4,800	~4.3+ weighted GPA, top 10% class rank, and 1450+ SAT or 32+ ACT	❌ No	✅ Yes	A small share of admits meeting the top academic band; many overlap with Honors admits.
Out‑of‑State Tuition Waiver	Covers the non‑resident tuition differential	Non‑residents in roughly the top 5–10% of FSU’s pool (~4.3+ GPA and 1450+ SAT/32+ ACT)	❌ No	✅ Yes	Rare; typically awarded to a small number of high‑achieving non‑residents (often Honors/STEM/Arts).
National Merit Finalist Package	Full OOS waiver + freshman scholarship + housing support	National Merit Finalist; lists FSU as first choice with NMSC by required date	❌ No	✅ Yes	Qualifying Finalists who complete all NMSC reporting steps on time.

Note: Benchmarks above reflect typical recipient profiles. FSU’s awards are holistic and funding‑limited; actual selections vary each cycle.

FAQ: Automatic Scholarships at FSU

Are these truly automatic?
Only the National Merit package behaves predictably (once NMSC steps are completed). Other awards are holistic and limited; there’s no public grid.

Do non‑residents get automatic big discounts?
No. Out‑of‑state waivers exist but are rare and competitive.

What helps most?
A rigorous course load, top‑band GPA/test scores, early/complete application, and (for NMFs) timely first‑choice designation with NMSC.

🏆 Competitive Scholarships

These scholarships are highly selective. Most require a separate application or are limited to students in specialized programs. Strong grades alone aren’t enough—you’ll need leadership, service, or National Merit status to be in the running.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Presidential Scholars Program	Full cost of attendance + $12K enrichment	Top 1–2% of applicants, Honors invite, Dec 1 deadline	✅	✅	ACT 34+/SAT 1500+, 4.4+ GPA, ~25 students each year
Department Waivers (OOS)	Partial or full out-of-state tuition	High-achieving STEM, Arts, or Business majors	❌	✅	Top non-resident admits with high test scores and GPAs
Benacquisto Scholarship	Full cost of attendance (stackable with Bright Futures)	Florida resident + National Merit Finalist	❌	✅	National Merit Finalists who name FSU as first choice
CARE Summer Bridge	Full tuition, housing, and books	Florida resident, first-gen, Pell-eligible	✅	✅	First-gen low-income Floridians admitted to CARE
Bright Futures (Florida only)	75%–100% tuition	ACT/SAT scores, GPA, and 100+ service hours	✅ via state	✅	Florida residents meeting state GPA/test/service cutoffs
FSU Foundation Scholarships (FS4U)	Varies by donor or department	Incoming or current students	✅	Varies	Applicants who apply early and match donor criteria

Note for parents: The Presidential Scholars Program is FSU’s most competitive award, with only about 25 students selected each year. Deadlines matter—December 1 is the cutoff for this and most top-tier awards. Encourage your student to complete the general app early and check their email frequently for special invitations.

Disclaimer: Award amounts, eligibility, and renewal rules are based on the latest FSU and state information. Exact criteria may change yearly depending on funding and applicant pools.

❓ Does FSU superscore the ACT or SAT?

SAT: Yes. FSU superscores by combining your student’s highest section scores across test dates.

ACT: No. FSU only uses the highest single ACT composite score.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These awards aren’t always advertised up front—but they’re real, and they add up. Most are tucked inside the FS4U portal or tied to specific majors, talents, or backgrounds.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Department-Specific Scholarships	$500–$2,000/year	Admitted students with strong GPAs in their intended major	✅ via FS4U	Varies	Students with 3.5+ GPAs in fields like Biology, Engineering, English
College of Music Scholarships	$1,000 up to full tuition	Music majors and band/ensemble participants; audition required	✅	✅	Accepted music majors with strong audition ratings
Arts & Design Awards	$500–$3,000/year	Studio Art, Theatre, or Design/Tech majors; portfolio submission	✅	Varies	Students with standout portfolios; highly competitive OOS
First-Gen Student Awards	$1,000–$5,000	First-generation status; involvement in service or mentoring	✅ via FS4U	✅	First-gen applicants engaged in leadership or service programs
Leadership & Service Donor Awards	$500–$2,500	Students with strong leadership/service records (Key Club, tutoring, etc.)	✅ via FS4U	Varies	Applicants with detailed resumes and community service hours
Research & Honors Grants	$1,000–$4,000	Honors students or participants in UROP	✅	❌ (one-time enrichment)	Admitted Honors/UROP students pursuing study abroad or research

❓ How do I use FS4U (the FSU scholarship portal)?

Once admitted, students log into FS4U with their FSU credentials. The system auto-matches scholarships based on major, background, and activities.

Complete the general application first—it unlocks most donor awards.
Sort by deadline (some close as early as February).
Upload a brag sheet and strong short answers to stand out.
Check monthly; new awards appear even after admission.

❓ Are Hidden Gem scholarships worth applying for?

Yes—while smaller, these awards can stack with Bright Futures and automatic aid. Many are renewable, and applying takes less than 20 minutes in FS4U.

✨ What FSU Is Known For

Florida State feels familiar — big enough to offer explosive opportunities, yet tight-knit enough to make students feel seen. From high-impact research to performance arts, FSU excels across a spectrum of programs that leave a legacy both statewide and nationally.

🎓 Signature Program to Know:
College of Criminology & Criminal Justice is nationally recognized — its faculty ranked No. 1 in the nation for research productivity by the Journal of Criminal Justice Education. That’s not just local impact, that’s national leadership.

Nursing — Doctor of Nursing Practice is ranked No. 1 among Florida’s public universities (U.S. News, 2024)
Law, Real Estate, and Medicine Graduate Programs all rank No. 1 among Florida public universities — with Law at #38 nationally overall (U.S. News, 2025)
Internship & Alumni Network — FSU is top-13 nationally for public-university alumni networks and internships (Princeton Review)
Study Abroad — FSU ranks #11 nationwide among universities for study-abroad programs (U.S. News)
Public Value & Student Life — Ranked Top 10 Public University and Top 2 in Florida for student life, criminal justice, and business (Niche, 2025)
Interior Architecture & Design — One of the nation’s oldest and most sustainable-focused programs; top-3 in CollegeRank’s 2022 interior design list

🎓 Honors at Florida State University

Why it matters: The Florida State University Honors Program is the gateway to FSU’s most competitive scholarships, plus priority registration, smaller classes, and access to research funding.

Students are automatically considered for Honors when they apply to FSU by the November 1 priority deadline. Only about the top 10% of applicants are admitted, and selection is holistic—based on GPA, rigor, leadership, and impact.

Scholarship	Award Amount	Eligibility	Separate App?	Renewable?	Who Actually Wins?
Presidential Scholars Program	Up to full cost of attendance + $12,000 enrichment funds	Admitted to FSU Honors Program; typically ACT 32+/SAT 1450+ and 4.4+ GPA with leadership or research impact	Yes (after admission)	Yes, up to 4 years	~25 students per year from the very top of the Honors pool

Parent Note: The Honors Program is extremely selective. If your student is just below the cutoff, highlight depth (research, leadership, service) in the main FSU application, since there are no appeals or second looks.

Honors Program FAQ

❓ Who gets into the FSU Honors Program?
Roughly the top 10% of admitted students—those with high rigor, GPAs above 4.3–4.4, and often SAT 1450+/ACT 32+. Strong essays and leadership matter too.

❓ Is there a separate application?
No. Applying by the November 1 priority deadline automatically places a student in the Honors review pool.

❓ What makes it worth it?
Beyond smaller classes and priority registration, admission unlocks eligibility for FSU’s most prestigious award—the Presidential Scholars Program.

📎 Official Links

✅ Final Thoughts

Florida State is one of those schools where the glossy brochures don’t tell the whole story. Automatic aid is limited, and most real scholarships are tied to competitive selection or Honors. But if your student is in the very top slice of applicants—or earns National Merit—FSU can suddenly feel much more affordable.

Think of it this way: for the average strong student, FSU may look pricey. For the extraordinary few, the door opens wide. That’s why it’s worth applying early, making sure every piece of the application shows academic depth, leadership, and impact. If FSU is on your kid’s list, set expectations honestly—but also keep the door open to the big wins.

Last updated: August 2025